Elgin

The attractive town of Elgin stands on the banks of the Lossie. The town is the administrative centre for the Moray district. The medieval plan has been preserved and the main street links its famous cathedral to the former site of the castle, the two mainstays of a medieval burgh.

Elgin Cathedral

The Catherdal is claimed by many to have been the most beautiful in Scotland. Today the biscuit-coloured ruins still stand, majestic, evocative and rich in style, characteristic of the 13th Century, a period of intensive church building. The creation of the diocese dated back to 1120 when territorially it extended over the ancient province of Moray. The Celtic churches of Kinneddar, Birnie and Spynie had served as episcopal seats prior to the final move in 1224 to the Church of the Holy Trinity at Elgin. Following fire damage in 1270, a scheme of enlargement was undertaken comprising the completion of double aisles to the nave. the extension of the choir and the addition of a chapter-house.

Both the town and the cathedral suffered ignominious destruction in 1390 at the hands of the Wolf of Badenoch. otherwise known as Alexander Stewart, the second son of King Robert II. Although duly repaired, the cathedral suffered gradual deterioration after the Reformation. This was in part due to the fact that it was no longer in use as a place of worship and also due to the protracted struggle over the ownership of church property after the Reformation. In 1711 the collapse of the central tower wreaked much damage and the ruins became a quarry for building materials. Conservation began in the early 19th Century.

The buildings

Between the buttressed twin towers of the west front is a deeply recessed portal with large windows above. Intricate vine and acorn carving frames the doorways. On the internal face is an attractive arcade marking the passageway between the towers at first floor level.

The view of the town from the top of the south tower (134 steps) is screened by the trees of Cooper Park. although the Duke of Gordon can be seen on his column on Lady Hill. The transepts are the oldest parts. The two figures in the south aisle originally adorned the outer walls of the central tower. The east end is an impressive arrangement of two rows of five lancets crowned by a rose window. The piers of the choir have unusual spire-like terminations. The octagonal 13th Century chapter-house was reconstructed in the 15th Century when it was provided with elaborately rich vaulting and carved bosses. The stone benching is discontinued for the five canopied seats. Standing within the former cathedral precincts are Pann's Port. a former gateway and in the corner of Cooper Park, the ruins of one of the manses, miscalled the Bishop's House.

Elgin Museum

This purpose-built Italianate building (1843) houses the local history museum. Items of particular interest are the local fossil fish and reptiles and incised Pictish stones, especially the Burghead Bulls.

High Street

Wynds and pends link the main thoroughfare to the north and south. Braco's Banking House, marked by street-level arcades, was the banking house of William Duff of Dipple. His son William Duff of Braco and later Earl of Fife Invested the accumulated fortune in the building of Duff House. Further along on the right as the street widens is a 17th Century tower, now offices. The handsome Church of St Giles designed in the classical style by the Aberdonian, Archibald Simpson, is greatly enhanced by its mid-street site. The steepled tower and fluted columned portico dominate the facades. Lady Hill at the far end of the street was the site of the medieval castle. Today it is dominated by the monument to the last Duke of Gordon (d 1836) with his Grace above.

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