Yet another of those ancient monuments with which Dumfries and Galloway is so well endowed, the ruins of Chapel Finian lie on the shores of Luce Bay on the west side of the Machars Peninsula in Dumfries and Galloway. Named after St Finbar (there were several Saints of that name though and tripadvisor suggests this St Finbar may be one and the same as St Ninian) it was a Way Station – a welcome pit-stop – for monks travelling from Ireland to Whithorn in the early days of Christianity in Scotland.

Information Board:-

Central portion:-

From southwest:-

There’s another view of the chapel here with an aerial shot here.

And so on our journey through Dumfries and Galloway it was on to Whithorn.

Whithorn has an important place in Scottish history as it was the location of the first Christian Church in Scotland after St Ninian crossed over from Ireland in the year 397 or thereabouts and the ruins of the mediæval Whithorn Priory stand in the town.

Architecturally Whithorn is a typical small Scottish town with stone built houses. I wasn’t really expecting any Art Deco but it does pop up in unlikely places.

Charles Coid, Butcher:-
There is a hint of eastern influence to this but the date in the cartouche is 1934 – slap bang in deco times – the geometric surround to the proprietor’s name with its mosaic construction and the towered roof line give it the look.

What looks like an old Woolworths; now houses “The Whithorn Story”:-

Georgian house:-

Memorial plaque to George Dickie, “Jack Brent,” member of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War:-

Pend leading to Whithorn Priory:-

The coat of arms above it is the Royal Arms of Scotland:-

Priory side of pend:-

Shutters on pend windows:-