EHG4023 - Geophysical Survey - Fortrose Cathedral

A Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey was carried out in February 2006 by the Orkney College Geophysical Unit for Historic Scotland within the survivng South Aisle building of Fortrose Cathedral. The vaulted ceiling of the South Aisle needed to be supported during a replacement of the building's existing wall ties, and GPR was undertaken to identify any possible voids beneath the floor that would pose a risk of damage to the building if heavy equipment were left atop them. Data was collected in three sections to compensate for differing floor levels within the building. Several tombstones were set into the floor, but it was unclear whether these actually topped graves, or if they had merely been used as paving. The survey identified two possible coffin spaces, which lay beneath tomb stones, and a further third structure which could also be a coffin space, but is without a tomb stone. Two voids were also identified. The areas were then marked out as ones to avoid in the placing of equipment. <1>