Whithorn Cathedral Priory 1424

Whithorn Cathedral Priory 1424

Culture,Intangible Heritage

A collaborative project between ourselves and the Whithorn Trust. Whithorn embodies the history of Christian belief, power and practice in Scotland. A sacred place for Christians from at least the 600s, the cult of St Ninian flourished here for over a thousand years. It brought travellers, traders, pilgrims and royalty to Whithorn from home and abroad. The site’s fortunes have fluctuated with those of the Church. After rising to great heights of wealth and glory, Whithorn was suppressed during the Protestant Reformation of 1560, and afterwards became a simple parish church. Increased archaeological interest since the 1880s has brought the site back to public attention, and the creation of the Whithorn Trust has secured it for future generations.

reconstructions

2022

Reconstruction

1501

In Copyright (InC)

current,54.7337383,-4.4209508;

https://player.vimeo.com/video/1105746749

Smart History/Open Virtual Worlds Team University of St Andrews

TEXT

Firstly, a digital landscape was created using survey data and height maps. Following extensive historical research and collaboration with specialists, 3D models are created and imported into UNREAL Engine (a cross-platform game engine for creating virtual worlds). Models are textured, scaled, oriented and assembled. Scenes are created and populated with appropriate objects, including furniture and artefacts. Landscapes populated with flora and fauna. Weather settings and atmospheric lighting. Character clothing researched and created, imported and animated.

Several archaeological digs have taken place at this important historical site over the years. The Whithort Trust has an extensive archive of evidence that enabled us, with the guidance of Scottish Architecture Historian Prof Richard Fawcett, we were able to undertake the process of recreating the architecture as it most likely looked for this period.

Prof Richard Fawcett (University of St Andrews) Julia Muirwatt (Whithorn Trust)

Sarah Kennedy, Dr Iain Oliver, Dr Alan Miller, Lucy Hardie, Perin Westerhof Nyman (School of Computer Science, University of St Andrews)

1424