Mirth, madness, & St Magnus
Subtitle: and the eccentric Sheriff Thoms
By: Paul J. Sutherland
Publisher: The Orcadian
Published: 2013
Place of publication: Kirkwall, Orkney
Language: eng
Number of pages: 234
ISBN-13: 9781902957593
Subjects: Will; Historic buildings; Conservation and restoration; Wills; St. Magnus Cathedral (Kirkwall, Scotland)
Other titles: Mirth, madness, and St Magnus
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.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.