[Gazetteer of Scotland Contents]
ISLE OF WHITHORN, a village and small sea-port in the parish of Whithorn, on the east coast of Wigtonshire; 2 miles north of the promontory of Burgh-head, and 3 miles south-east of the burgh of Whithorn. It stands at the head of a small bay, which is almost land-locked by an islet ½ a mile long, and ¼ of a mile broad, lying across its mouth. The harbour is, in consequence, well-sheltered and safe, and possesses internal capaciousness and external advantages of position which might apparently be turned to patriotic and lucrative account. A pier, erected about half-a-century ago by the aid of the Convention of Royal Burghs, offers accommodation to the few vessels which the unimportant commerce of the district keeps employed. The Galloway steamer occasionally touches here on her way to and from Liverpool; and small vessels sail weekly hence to Whitehaven, and other English ports, engaged principally in the importation of coals. The little port communicates by good public roads with Whithorn, Wigton, and Garlieston. On the shore at the village are vestiges of an ancient chapel or church of small size, which the learned author of Caledonia says is traditionally reported to have been the earliest place of Christian worship in Scotland. Near the village is a weak chalybeate spring, whose waters are sufficiently celebrious to draw to the place invalid visiters. Population, in 1840, about 420.