WHITHORN-ISLE-OF, a sea-port and village, in the
parish of Whithorn, county of Wigtown, 2^ miles
(S. E.) from the town of Whithorn; containing 495 inhabitants.
This place is situated at the head of a small
bay in the south-eastern coast of the parish, and derives
its name from an island at the mouth of the
bay, on which are the ruins of an ancient church supposed
to have been the first place of Christian worship
erected in this part of Scotland. The island is less than
half a mile in length, and scarcely a quarter of a mile
broad; it affords shelter from easterly winds to vessels
entering the bay, but is not distinguished by any particular
features of importance. The village is principally
inhabited by seamen and others employed in the
trade of the port, which consists chiefly in the exportation
of cattle, sheep, and swine, grain, and other agricultural
produce; and in the importation of coal and
lime from England, and various kinds of merchandise
for the supply of the district. Though narrow at the
entrance, the harbour has good accommodation for the
vessels employed in the coasting-trade. A commodious
pier was constructed towards the close of the last century,
by aid from the funds of the Convention of Royal
Burghs. Vessels sail weekly to Whitehaven and other
towns on the Enghsh coast; and the Galloway steamers
call at this place occasionally on their passage to and
from Liverpool.