We took Ben’s mother and her partner to some sights in Aberdeen today including St Machar Cathedral which was built between 1380 and 1520 on the site of a 6th century Christian church. The cathedral has a particularly lovely timber ceiling, recognised internationally and possibly the earliest flat ceiling in a British public building. It’s adorned with 48 shields representing the church, Europe and Scotland in 1520.
You can see a Pictish stone in the church which is thought to date from about 600 based on the style of the cross.
There is also a marble memorial to remember the men who fell in war.
Afterwards we had a little wander in Seaton Park.
This is the River Don. You can sometimes spot otters here.
St Machar cathedral is right next to the University of Aberdeen so Ben took us on a tour of the university. First stop was the Zoology museum which I’ve been wanting to visit for a long time. It’s free, open Monday-Friday, and comfortingly old-fashioned with not a touch-screen in sight.
This is a Scottish wildcat.
The University of Aberdeen is the 5th oldest university in the UK and the 3rd oldest in Scotland which means the campus has some beautiful old architecture. This is King’s College with a bronze and marble monument out front for Bishop William Elphinstone, founder of the university.
There’s even a campus chapel which also has a splendid timber ceiling and is available if you’re looking for a marriage ceremony venue.
This is Elphinstone Hall which would have been a good film location for the Hogwarts school hall.
These are the Powis Gates, built in the 19th century to create a dramatic entranceway for Powis House.
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