Iona Cathedral

Iona Cathedral

ID: QZP40_351A_2_P290 DESCRIPTION: This illustration is taken from 'A Tour in Scotland' by Thomas Pennant. It shows Iona Cathedral, shaped in the form of a cross. Founded in the 6th century by the missionary St Columba, Iona Cathedral is the burial place of early Scottish kings. Nothing now remains of the original building, the timber having been replaced by stone as early as 1200, and various extensions added from then until the middle of the 16th century. The abbey was left derelict after coming under attack during the Reformation in 1560 and remained so until 1899, when the Duke of Argyll handed the building over to the Iona Cathedral Trust. Although ownership was handed over to the Trust it was not accompanied by funding, so an appeal was made in 1901 to raise money for restoration. Work began the following year with re-roofing and re-glazing at a cost of £2750, and continued intermittently until restoration was finally completed in 1965 PLACENAME: Iona DISTRICT: Mull DATE OF IMAGE: 1776 PERIOD: 1760s SOURCE: Highland Libraries COLLECTION: Fraser Mackintosh Collection (illustrations) Asset ID: 31141 KEYWORDS: