[Illustration: FIG. 722.--Chapel on “The Isle.” Plan.]
[Illustration: FIG. 723.--Chapel on “The Isle.” View from South-East.]
“The Isle” is a rocky promontory, formerly an island, but now connected
with the mainland at low tide. It stands near the south end of the main
part of Wigtonshire, about two miles north from Burrow Head and three
miles south-east of Whithorn. On this isle stand the ruins of an ancient
chapel. It is roughly built, with walls 2 feet 8 inches in thickness,
and, from its pointed arches, appears to be of first or second pointed
date. The structure (Fig. 722) measures 37 feet 6 inches in length by
22
[Illustration: FIG. 724.--Chapel on “The Isle.” View from South-West.]
[Illustration: FIG. 725.--Chapel on “The Isle.” Font.]
feet in width externally, and has originally been very exactly measured
off. The doorway has been in the south wall, but it is now broken down
and the freestone dressings removed. There has been a tall pointed
window in each of the north and south walls, and a similar window,
though apparently wider, in the east end wall. The dressings have been
torn out, but the pointed sconsion arches still remain (Figs 723 and
724). There is a small square ambry in the north wall, and a similar,
but larger, one in the south wall. The exterior is quite plain, and
without buttresses or break of any kind.
The simple bowl of the font has been recovered, after having served for
generations as a trough to bruise whins in for food for horses (Fig.
725). It is now preserved at Whithorn.
Much discussion has taken place regarding this chapel, some supposing it
to be the original _Candida Casa_ of St. Ninian. The style of the
structure puts that view out of the question; but it is still thought by
some--amongst others by Mr. T. S. Muir[114]--that the isle was a much
more likely place for St. Ninian to fix his first settlement on than at
Whithorn, where he would be in the midst of a probably not very friendly
people. In that case the Chapel on “The Isle” would be the successor of
the original _Candida Casa_. But there is nothing at either place to
determine with any degree of certitude the site of the first Christian
edifice in Scotland.