Everything about Whithorn totally explained
Whithorn (
Taigh Mhàrtainn in
Gaelic) is a small
burgh in
Dumfries and Galloway,
Scotland, about ten miles south of
Wigtown.
The town was the location of the first recorded Christian
church in Scotland,
Candida Casa the 'White [or'Shining'] House', built by
Saint Ninian (original form Nynia) about
397. A monastery and diocese of the
Anglo-Saxon kingdom of
Northumbria was founded on the site in the
8th century. It was the centre of the revived
See of Galloway (or Candida Casa) under the patronage of
Fergus, Lord of Galloway and Bishop
Gille Aldan from the 12th century. The late medieval cathedral priory is ruinous, much of it having disappeared completely apart from the much-altered aisleless
nave and vaults at the former eastern end which once held the shrine of
St. Ninian, one of medieval Scotland's major
pilgrimage destinations. A
museum in the town contains finds from the site, which has been extensively excavated in recent years. A late medieval gateway with the arms of the King of Scots leads into the site of the priory, which contains the 19th century parish church and a museum of carved stones (
Historic Scotland). The collection of early medieval stones is one of the largest in Scotland, and includes the country's earliest surviving Christian memorial, the 5th century inscribed 'Latinus Stone'. The museum layout and display was revised and greatly improved in 2005.
Whithorn was first known (in Latin) as
Candida Casa. 'Whithorn' is a modern form of the Anglo-Saxon version (actually a literal translation) of this name,
Hwit Ærne, 'white house'. In
Gallovidian Gaelic, it was called
Rosnat, or
Futarna, the latter a version of the Anglo-Saxon name (Gaelic has no sound corresponding to English 'wh').
Whithorn's link to the sea was the port known as the
Isle of Whithorn (a separate community from Whithorn itself and actually a peninsula). Much used in the Middle Ages by pilgrims arriving by boat. The
thirteenth century St Ninian's Chapel marked the point where pilgrims came ashore (the roofless remains are looked after by
Historic Scotland).
The
1st Century settlement of
Rispain Camp, about 1 mile west of Whithorn is also in the care of Historic Scotland.
Railway
Whithorn was once served by a
railway station until the
Beeching axe.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Whithorn'.
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