Dornoch Cathedral, excluding scheduled monument SM10828, Castle Street, Dornoch

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site.

Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Further details on this record are provided for information purposes only.
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Designation:Listed Building (Category A)

Designation status:Designated

Designation reference:LB24632

Listed building statutory address: Dornoch Cathedral, Excluding Scheduled Monument Sm10828, Castle Street, Dornoch
Category of listing: A
Group category details (legacy): null -
Date added: 17th March 1971
Date last amended: 14th September 2017

Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Location details

Local authority: Highland

Burgh: Dornoch

British National Grid (BNG) Coordinates: 279720, 889692

Ordnance Survey (OS) National Grid Reference: NH 79720 89692

Latitude: 57.88042Longitude: -4.02992

Datum: Not recorded or unknown

The use of maps and map data, either on screen or in documents, is subject toterms and conditions. When considering the legally defined boundary of a designated place, we recommend you review the map data, related documents and the designation record.Find out more in our guidance.

Description

13th century, cruciform with central tower and spire, subsequently much rebuilt; complete restoration by William Burn, 1835-37.

In accordance with Section 1 (4A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 the following is excluded from the listing: scheduled monument SM10828

All rubble with ashlar dressings. Exterior; 4-bay nave (1835-37 on medieval plan incorporating early west gable and window); 3-bay choir and 2-bay transepts, all with lancet windows tripled in east and transept gables and linked by continuous string course; angle buttresses. West door recessed under pointed arch with nook shafts. Large intersecting medieval Y-tracery window above. Small porch, similarly detailed as at west, in south transept gable. Central tower supported on 13th century shafted piers with early 17th century corbelled parapet and embryo angle turrets; early 18th century broached, slated spire (restored 1835-37); evidence remains inside tower of corbelled vaulting, probably to support roof that pre-dated spire. The clustered columns of the crossing piers, of irregular height with embryo waterleaf capitals are an important example of transitional architecture in Scotland. The remains of decorative arcading between the transept and choir windows indicate an elaborate original treatment.

Interior: pilaster rib-vaulted choir and nave (1835-37) rubble walls revealing some incorporated medieval masonry lath and plaster of the Burn period removed in 1929). Choir lancets linked by continuous hoodmoulds east window 3 lancets with additional lancet in gable (inserted after original building, but not replaced by Burn, west window follows design of original but raised to allow for west door. Transepts raised, bases of crossing piers still visible choir raised further (Sutherland burial vault below) and approached by 4 steps; recumbant effigy of Richard de Moravia and various mural monuments including classical monument to 18th Earl and his wife on s side of choir unusually fine collection of 19th and 20th century stained glass, including windows in memory of Andrew Carnegie of Skibo (1835-1919) by Percy Bacon, and to Rosemary Millicent, Viscountess Edam, daughter of 4th Duke of Sutherland and her son by Morris and Co (1930) and to 4th Duke in east windows by Christopher Whall. Richly carved wooden Gothic octagonal pulpit, communion table and choir seating date from 1911.

Statement of Special Interest

Place of worship in use as such. Founded by St Gilbert Murray (de Moravia) in 1224. Damaged by fire in 1570. Chancel, transept and tower restored in 1616 by Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun, Tutor of Sutherland (during minority of his nephew, the Earl). Spire commenced 1728, still unfinished 1732. Rebuilding of nave and complete restoration, 1835-37, financed by Countess Elizabeth Dowager Duchess of Sutherland. Further restoration, 1924, when 1835-37 interior mural plastering stripped. Large statue of first Duke of Sutherland by Sir Francis L. Chantry, which stood at west end of church, removed to Dunrobin in 1980.

In accordance with Section 1 (4A) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 the following is excluded from the listing: scheduled monument SM10828.

Listed building record and statutory address updated in 2017. Previously listed as 'Castle Street Dornoch Cathedral and Walled Grave Yard. (Cathedral of St. Mary and St Gilbert. Church of Scotland Parish Church).'

Related places

dornoch, high street, cathedral of st mary and st …

War Memorial (20th Century), Burial Ground (Period Unassigned), Cathedral (13th Century)

14637Highland

About listed buildings

What is a listed building?

Designation is the legal recognition of some of Scotland’s most important historic sites and places. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) designates scheduled monuments, listed buildings, historic battlefields, and gardens and designed landscapes.

HES makes recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

HES list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published inDesignation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019) - external link.

About listed building records

Listed building records, like this one, provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

Legal requirements

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only.

HES does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed.

Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While HES is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word ’excluding’ and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word ’excluding’, but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Planning and consents

Listed building consentis required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Further information

Searchtrove.scot for information on scheduling andother designationsor visitHistoric Environment Scotland - external link.

You can also contact us on0131 668 8914 ordesignations@hes.scot - external link

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