Mirth, madness, & St Magnus

By Paul J. Sutherland

Subjects: Conservation and restoration, Historic buildings, St. Magnus Cathedral (Kirkwall, Scotland), Wills, Will

Description: "This tells the story of Sheriff Thoms, who was sheriff for Orkney and Shetland just over a century ago. An eccentric bachelor, his behaviour was bizarre and when he died he left a fortune for the renovation of St magnus Cathedral. The Will, leaving approximately £13m (in today's money) for the work, was contested by the family and in a week long court case in Edinburgh, the bizarre life style of the sheriff was revealed in detail; even hinting at an unseemly sex life! The family lost the case and the money probably saved the Cathedral falling into ruin. The Rose Window is dedicated to Thoms, who arguably was "The Man who saved St Magnus Cathedral". -- Orcadian bookshop.