Editing Whithorn

{{see also|Isle of Whithorn|Bishop of Whithorn}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{{infobox UK place
| country                          = Scotland
| official_name                    = Whithorn
| static_image_name                = File:Whithorn (21553098639).jpg
| static_image_caption             = St Ninians's Priory Church
| population                       = {{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Whithorn}}
| population_ref                   = ({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref>{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref>
| os_grid_reference                = NX445405
| edinburgh_distance_mi            = 97
| london_distance_mi               = 285
| coordinates                      = {{coord|54.735|-4.416|display=inline,title|region:GB-DGY_type:landmark_dim:2000|format=dms}}
| unitary_scotland                 = [[Dumfries and Galloway]]
| lieutenancy_scotland             = [[Wigtownshire]]
| constituency_westminster         = [[Dumfries and Galloway (UK Parliament constituency)|Dumfries and Galloway]]
| constituency_scottish_parliament = [[Galloway and West Dumfries (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Galloway and West Dumfries]]
| post_town                        = NEWTON STEWART
| postcode_district                = DG8
| postcode_area                    = DG
| dial_code                        = 01988
}}
'''Whithorn''' ({{IPA|sco|ˈʍɪthorn}}; {{langx|gd|Taigh Mhàrtainn}}), is a [[royal burgh]] in the [[shires of Scotland|historic county]] of [[Wigtownshire]] in [[Dumfries and Galloway]], [[Scotland]], about {{convert|10|mi|km|abbr=off}} south of [[Wigtown]].<ref>[http://www.whithorn.info/community/whithorn.asp "Whithorn", Royal Burgh of Whithorn and District Business Association]</ref> The town was the location of the first recorded Christian [[Church (building)|church]] in Scotland, {{lang|la|[[Candida Casa]]}} "White/Shining House", built by [[Saint Ninian]] about 397&nbsp;CE.

==Toponymy==
[[File:Anglo-Saxon Chronicle - Hwiterne.jpg|thumb|left|Mention of Whithorn (as {{lang|ang|Hwiterne}}) in the ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'']]
There is a tradition that [[Ninian|St Ninian]] built a church of stone and lime nearby in the late 4th century; it was called {{lang|la|Candida Casa}}, 'White/Shining House'.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Whithorn|volume=28|page=609}}</ref> "Whithorn" is a modern form of the Anglo-Saxon version of this name, {{lang|ang|Hwit Ærn}} or {{lang|ang|Hwiterne}}, 'White House'. In [[Gallovidian Gaelic language|Gallovidian Gaelic]], it was called {{lang|gd|Rosnat}}, or {{lang|gd|Futarna}}, the latter a version of the Anglo-Saxon name (Gaelic has no sound corresponding to English ''wh'').<ref>{{cite journal |last=Thomas |first=Charles |date=1971 |title=Topographical Notes: III. Rosnat, Rostat, and the Early Irish Church |journal=Ériu |volume=XXII |pages=100–106 |jstor=30007604}}</ref> Ninian dedicated the church to his master [[Martin of Tours]], and when he died (probably in 432) Ninian was buried in the church.<ref name="EB1911" />

==Early history==
A monastery and [[Anglo-Saxon Diocese of Whithorn|diocese of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom]] of [[Northumbria]] was founded on the site in the 8th century, possibly originating with a 6th-century {{lang|la|Magnum Monasterium}}, or monastery of Rosnat.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} It was the centre of the revived [[Diocese of Galloway|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 [[Whithorn 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|Historic Environment 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.

===The crozier===
One of the finest artefacts found at the site is the Whithorn Crozier. The gilded and enamelled crozier is an outstanding example of {{lang|fr|[[champlevé]]}} enamels which were being made in England in the second half of the 12th century, and this one dates to around 1175.{{sfn|Glenn|2003|pp= 29-33}} It is now housed in the [[National Museums of Scotland]], although it is loaned to the Whithorn Trust Visitor Centre every summer. It is thought that the crozier was buried with the body of [[Simon de Wedale]], who was one of the Bishops of Whithorn.

==Churches==
* St Martin and St Ninian Catholic Church, George St, 1959–60. Designed by [[Harry Stuart Goodhart-Rendel|Harry Stuart Goodhart Rendel]] and is his only known building in Scotland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Basic Site Details: SS Ninian, Martin and John RC Church |date=2016 |work=Dictionary of Scottish Architects |publisher=Historic Environment Scotland / Arts & Humanities Research Council / University of St Andrews / Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland / Edinburgh College of Art |url= http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=406695 |access-date=18 September 2023}}</ref> The interior was reordered with the altar brought forward from the east wall following the reforms of the [[Second Vatican Council]]. At that time the [[baldacchino]] was also demolished, and the decorative ironwork at the baptistry and communion rail scrapped.  The original [[Creetown]] granite altar was placed outside against the east elevation. A possible source of inspiration is the church of [[San Julián de los Prados]] Ovieda, Asturias in Spain.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://aye-whithorn.blogspot.com/2011/01/goodhart-rendels-inspiration.html?m=1 |title=Goodhart-Rendel's Inspiration |work=Whithorn |date=10 January 2011 |access-date=18 September 2023}}</ref> The East elevation has a carved [[Hew Lorimer]] crucifix mounted to the wall. The crucifix has not fared well after poor cleaning in 1997 led to significant loss of detail. The church including the quadrant walls is listed Category C(S).<ref>{{Cite web |title=GEORGE STREET, ST MARTIN AND ST NINIAN ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, INCLUDING QUADRANT WALLS (LB51291) |url=https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB51291 |access-date=2024-01-01 |website=portal.historicenvironment.scot}}</ref>
*St Ninian's Priory Church, Church of Scotland. Built 1822 using stones from the medieval Whithorn Priory. The tower was added in the mid-19th century. Porch added by [[Peter MacGregor Chalmers]] in 1914.

==Geography==
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). It was much used in the Middle Ages by pilgrims arriving by boat. The thirteenth-century [[Saint Ninian's Chapel]] marked the point where pilgrims came ashore (the roofless remains are looked after by [[Historic Scotland|Historic Environment Scotland]]).

The 1st-century settlement of [[Rispain Camp]], about {{convert|1|mi|km}} west of Whithorn, is also in the care of [[Historic Scotland]].

== Railway ==
Whithorn was once served by a [[Whithorn railway station|railway station]] until 1950 when the passenger service was withdrawn and the freight services falling victim to the [[Beeching axe]] in 1964. The track was lifted in April 1965.

==Listed buildings==
[[List of listed buildings in Whithorn, Dumfries and Galloway]]

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Burgh.of.Whithorn.Seal.png|Seal of the Burgh of Whithorn
File:Whithorn Priory.jpg|[[Whithorn Priory]]
File:St Ninians Chapel.jpg|Remains of the Priory Nave at Whithorn
File:Monreith Cross.JPG|The Monreith Cross in the Whithorn Museum
File:Whithorn War Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 1456775.jpg|Whithorn War Memorial
File:St Martin and St Ninian Catholic Church Whithorn Wigtownshire consecrated 1960.jpg|St Martin and St Ninian Church, George   Street
</gallery>

==Residents==

* Charles Lockhart (1818–1905), petroleum producer and refiner, was born in Cairnhead, Isle of Whithorn. Co-founder in 1874 with John D Rockefeller of the Standard Oil Company ([[Esso]]).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cowan|first=Edward J|title=Dumfries and Galloway: People and Place, 1700-1914|publisher=Birlinn|year=2019|isbn=9781910900123|location=Edinburgh}}</ref>
* The poet and scholar of [[Spanish literature|South American literature]] [[Alastair Reid (poet)|Alastair Reid]] was born in Whithorn on 22 March 1926. He was known for his lighthearted style of poems and for his translations of South American poets [[Jorge Luis Borges]] and [[Pablo Neruda]]. Although he was known for translations, his own poems had gained notice during his lifetime.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alastair Reid - obituary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11146698/Alastair-Reid-obituary.html |website=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=18 October 2018 |date=7 October 2014}}</ref> In his later years he was a frequent summer visitor, with his wife Leslie staying in a cottage on the [[Galloway House]] estate.
* George Dickie (1912–1951) was born and grew up in Whithorn. Using the ''nom de guerre'' of Jack Brent, he fought in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–38, against the fascist forces of [[Francisco Franco|General Franco]]. A memorial plaque was unveiled to him in 2006 on the former butcher's shop next to The Pend where he once worked as an assistant. His story is told by his nephew, John Dickie, in the 2012 biography ''Geordie's Story: A Life of Jack Brent''.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Geordie's Story: The Life of Jack Brent|last=Dickie|first=John|publisher=Azian Publications|year=2012|isbn=9780957248021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/collections/people/key-people/soldiers,-sailors,-rebels-outlaws/jack-brent.aspx |title=Soldiers, Sailors, Rebels & Outlaws: Jack Brent |work=FutureMuseum.co.uk |date=2012 |publisher=Future Museum Project Partners |access-date=18 September 2023}}</ref>
*Jeannie Donnan (1864–1942), "The Galloway Poetess", was born in [[Gatehouse of Fleet]] in Kirkcudbrightshire and later moved to Whithorn on George Street commemorated by a plaque. She wrote local poetry published as ''Hameland: The Poems of Jeannie Donnan'', 1907; ''War Poems'', 1915; ''The Hills of Hame'', 1930, as well as in the ''Galloway Gazette''.

== See also ==
*[[Whithorn (Parliament of Scotland constituency)]]
*[[Isle of Whithorn]]

==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
*  {{cite book|last=Glenn|first= V. |date=2003|title=Romanesque and Gothic: decorative metalwork and ivory carvings in the Museum of Scotland|location= Edinburgh|publisher= Museum of Scotland|url={{google books|plainurl=yes|id=dAfrAAAAMAAJ|keywords=Whithorn}} }}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category|Whithorn}}
{{commons category|Whithorn Priory}}
*[https://archive.org/stream/castellateddomes05macguoft#page/249/mode/1up  Castlewigg Tower plan]
*[https://archive.org/stream/castellateddomes05macguoft#page/354/mode/1up  Isle of Whithorn Castle]
*[http://www.whithorn.com/ The Whithorn Trust]
*http://www.whithorn.info/
*http://www.whithornevergreens.co.uk/
*http://aye-whithorn.blogspot.com/2011/01/goodhart-rendels-inspiration.html?m=1

{{Civil parishes in Dumfries and Galloway}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Whithorn| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Dumfries and Galloway]]
[[Category:Parishes in Dumfries and Galloway]]
[[Category:Ports and harbours of Scotland]]
[[Category:Royal burghs]]