Whithorn

Whithorn is the location of the earliest church in Scotland, but is still a nice little town. The church was built shortly before 400 AD by St. Ninian, who was a Sassenach (Engerlishman), educated in Rome. The town museum tells the story of the area with an emphasis on the monastery and later cathedral that sprang up after Ninian. It's a moderately interesting exhibition, even for someone who passionately hates the church (which church? any church!), such as moi. There are some old ruins and a graveyard behind the museum.

All pics here.

The Whithorn crozier from appx. 1175. Nice craftsmanship. Some of the other artifacts dug up nearby are also quite well made.


You could dress up (again, only iffin you were tiny... discrimination!).


From the kids' dept. upstairs. I have no idea what this skeleton was supposed to illustrate.


More dressing up available. The wee ones have all the fun. Sigh.


The earliest Christian memorial in Scotland (so far).


The ruins of the old church. As far as I could make out, it was extensively rebuilt several times, last after the Reformation.


The Monreith cross was probably used for non-religious purposes, possibly the early justice system.


As usual, the graveyard provides interesting information. This mariner buried five children and a wife.


Most pathetic and misleading warning ever. I never saw no trees carrying dangerous weapons or behaving in even a slightly suspicious manner.