I must be getting nostalgic for the UK. I’ve been going through old photos and the ones I seem to linger on are places back ‘home’. It was only a little over a year ago that we were on the windswept coast of Eastern Scotland. Not far north of Edinburgh lies the university town of St. Andrews. One of the main features of the town is the ruins of its ancient cathedral, the nave towers you can just see to the right of the picture below.

Looking through the photographs, I realised that I had taken a number of them in preparation for a post on doors. I wonder why I never got around to posting them? Well, as we enter lockdown again here in Greece, I am taking the opportunity of time on my hands to finally write this post. But, before we get to the doors, I have to include the rather humorous photo of a street sign (old one embedded in the wall and new above). It was the first thing I spotted when we arrived in the evening and decided it was just light enough for a walk around town. I knew from the scatological humour that we were in a University Town.

Leaving the gutter, let’s move on to higher thoughts. The ruins of the great 12th century Romanesque cathedral are on the seaward side of the town. The great west door leads you into what would once have been a magnificent columned space. You get a framed view through the doorway into the nave and the towers at the altar end.

Once in the nave, you can look back towards the entrance and see the line where columns once stood marked out in the grass. Next to the door is a tower with its winding stairs and numerous doorways opening onto open space.

Along the preserved nave wall separating what was once the cathedral with the cloisters is the west processional door, now blocked. It looks like it has been filled in two separate times: once from a large entranceway and secondly, a smaller door.


In the cloisters, there are beautiful archways looking out into the ruins of the monastic buildings.

The holes in the archway above the door below must be revetment holes that once held decorative reliefs in place.

Just outside this door is a jumble of low walls that once marked rooms of the priory. I suspect that this stairway once lead to a door.

Just outside the Cathedral precincts is Pends Gate which marks the old entrance to the priory.

Have a look at Norm’s blog, Thursday Doors for more stories of fascinating buildings and their doors.
Very different indeed from your more usual posts, but just as lovely.
LikeLike
Yes, very different! It’s been a bleak few days here in Athens and now lockdown. However, I am very lucky to have a large garden surrounding us. On these rare days, I miss the UK!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You wouldn’t. We have lockdown too, with added rain and fog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
WOW ! these photo’s are just stunning. The cathedral arches are especially superb.Thank you for sharing your very unusual interest.
PS I did not realize you live in Greece. I live on Crete. Hope all is well with you during these trying times. Stay safe.
LikeLike
Thanks Rita. Yes, all is well here in Athens. St. Andrews is a wonderful place to visit and we were lucky to be there during the glorious days of spring.
LikeLike
Ah, wonderful old ruins!
LikeLike
They are! And, in such a superb setting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it would appear so!
LikeLike
LoL! Butt Wynd… funny. Love the history in these buildings. You got some great shots!
Pat
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stunning shots. It stirs my minds eye to try to imagine what it all looked like back when it was all still intact.
LikeLike
Thanks Norm. It is a stunning place to visit. It boggles the mind to imagine the soaring ceilings and arches that the place must have once had.
LikeLike
what amazing old ruins and incredible doorways. i love butts wynd! beautiful photos of gorgeous ruins and views.
LikeLike
The street sign was a brilliant chance find! And, the ruins are absolutely marvellous. I want to go back to St. Andrews.
LikeLike
These are stunning photos. I love the one of the filled-in west processional door. The care that they took to fill in an opening is remarkable. Thanks for sharing these photos, and your explanation made me feel like I was on a very nice tour.
LikeLike
Thank you. St. Andrews Cathedral is spectacular. I agree – the blocked door is filled with great care and precision. Glad you liked the ‘tour’!
LikeLiked by 1 person