Dunblane Cathedral
The only ancient remaining portion of Dunblane Cathedral is the bell
tower. This stands on a different alignment to the rest of the
cathedral and is traditional said to date from the time after the
re-establishment of the cathedral in 1150. Before this time the
episcopal centre is said to have been at Muthill, even though a
complete ninth or tenth century cross slab and early pieces of
sculpture have been discovered on the site indicating an early church
here.
Description
The tower is about 20' square and rises 4 storeys high, before 2
further sixteenth century floors. It is built of a red sandstone
ashlar and has a projecting string course at each floor, just like
Markinch. The thirteenth century
cathedral aisle joins the tower
at an odd angle, although the clerestory behind does not. This
makes the tower appear a clumsy addition rather than an earlier
structure. However the tower has a large, north facing tower
doorway. This is about 10' high to its lintel and then has a
fine Romanesque arch on top of it in the Byzantine fashion. There
appear to have been no arches to the east or west of the tower as would
be expected so the original form of the original church that went with
this tower is difficult to guess.
The tower forms one of the group of 5 in
Scotland, the others being Dunning, Markinch, Muthill and St Rule.
Copyright©2022
Paul Martin Remfry