Fortrose Cathedral, Black Isle

Fortrose Cathedral, Black Isle

ID: QZP40_458_P001 DESCRIPTION: This illustration is of the south side of Fortrose Cathedral. It is taken from Angus J Beaton's 'Illustrated Guide to Fortrose and Vicinity, with an appendix on the Antiquities of the Black Isle', published in Inverness in 1885. The cathedral was established by Bishop Robert in the 13th century, after the Bishops of Ross moved there from Rosemarkie. Building ceased during the Wars of Independence and was resumed in the late 14th century. Already in a state of disrepair after the Reformation, much of its red sandstone was removed by Oliver Cromwell's army and taken to build his fort at Inverness. The rest was taken by local villagers for their houses. All that remains are the south aisle of the nave and the nearby sacristy (undercroft) of the chapter house. Within the aisles are three arched tombs: Euphemia, Countess of Ross, who was forced to marry Alexander Stewart, the Wolf of Badenoch, Bishop Robert Cairncross, who died in 1545, and Bishop John Fraser, who died in 1507. The Cathedral contains many marble tablets commemorating members of the Seaforth Mackenzie family and a memorial, built c1800, to Sir Alexander Mackenzie of Coul PLACENAME: Fortrose OLD COUNTY/PARISH: ROSS: Rosemarkie DATE OF IMAGE: 1885 PERIOD: 1880s SOURCE: Highland Libraries COLLECTION: Fraser Mackintosh Collection (illustrations) Asset ID: 31216 KEYWORDS: