No
one who knows Dunkeld would wish to dispute that it is one of
Scotland’s most delightful small towns. It has the great
natural advantage of a magnificent setting on the banks of the
River Tay, within a mountainous landscape. Beyond this, during
the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, its architectural appearance
was seen by the Dukes of Atholl as one of their special concerns
and, particularly after the construction of the new bridge in
1805—9, great care was taken over the design of all buildings
within the town. But the finest single building is undoubtedly
the medieval cathedral, part of which remains in use as the church
of the local community, and the rest of which stands as a ruin
of great beauty.
We
are very fortunate that we probably know more about the architectural
history and internal arrangement of Dunkeld than about any other
Scottish cathedral. Much of this information was provided on the
eve of the Reformation by Abbot Alexander Myln of Cambuskenneth,
who had earlier been official (judge in the ecclesiastical courts)
of the diocese of Dunkeld.
The
present park-like setting of the cathedral, however, would have
been a great surprise to Myln. At the time he wrote, it was closely
hemmed in by the burgh, amongst which the residences of the clergy
would have been prominent in the cathedral’s immediate vicinity.
The broad lawns and fine trees which now provide such a splendid
foil to the building were another part of the involvement of the
Dukes of Atholl with the appearance of Dunkeld. They came to regard
the cathedral as an inspiring eye-catcher within view of their
adjacent house, following the destruction of much of the rest
of the town in the great battle of Dunkeld in 1689. In the process
of creating this landscape, much of historic interest must have
been lost, although when the result is so timelessly beautiful
most visitors will feel there are sufficient compensations.
Written
by Dr Richard Fawcett, for:
The Society of Friends of Dunkeld Cathedral
The Manse, Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland.
No
one who knows Dunkeld would wish to dispute that it is one of
Scotland’s most delightful small towns. It has the great
natural advantage of a magnificent setting on the banks of the
River Tay, within a mountainous landscape. Beyond this, during
the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, its architectural appearance
was seen by the Dukes of Atholl as one of their special concerns
and, particularly after the construction of the new bridge in
1805—9, great care was taken over the design of all buildings
within the town. But the finest single building is undoubtedly
the medieval cathedral, part of which remains in use as the church
of the local community, and the rest of which stands as a ruin
of great beauty.
We
are very fortunate that we probably know more about the architectural
history and internal arrangement of Dunkeld than about any other
Scottish cathedral. Much of this information was provided on the
eve of the Reformation by Abbot Alexander Myln of Cambuskenneth,
who had earlier been official (judge in the ecclesiastical courts)
of the diocese of Dunkeld.
The
present park-like setting of the cathedral, however, would have
been a great surprise to Myln. At the time he wrote, it was closely
hemmed in by the burgh, amongst which the residences of the clergy
would have been prominent in the cathedral’s immediate vicinity.
The broad lawns and fine trees which now provide such a splendid
foil to the building were another part of the involvement of the
Dukes of Atholl with the appearance of Dunkeld. They came to regard
the cathedral as an inspiring eye-catcher within view of their
adjacent house, following the destruction of much of the rest
of the town in the great battle of Dunkeld in 1689. In the process
of creating this landscape, much of historic interest must have
been lost, although when the result is so timelessly beautiful
most visitors will feel there are sufficient compensations.