Other current and historical names
Location and coordinates are for the approximate centre of Whithorn within this administrative area. Geographic features and populated places may cross administrative borders.
Gazetteer of the British Isles (Edinburgh: Bartholomew, 1887). John Bartholomew
Whithorn, royal and police burgh, and par., Wigtownshire, 12½ miles S. of Wigtown by rail - par., 11,891 ac., pop. 2929; police burgh, pop. 1653; royal burgh, pop. 1643; P.O., T.O., 2 Banks. Market-day, Thursday. Whithorn is a place of great antiquity, and has the ruins of a cathedral, occupying the site of a church founded (4th century) by St Ninian - the "Candida Casa," and the earliest Christian church in Scotland. The shrine of St Ninian at Whithorn was long a famous resort of pilgrimage. Whithorn formed one of the Wigtown District of parliamentary burghs, which returned 1 member until 1885.