Transactions. 169 



They drove next across to the shore of Wigto\ni Bay, to the 

 Isle of "Whithorn. This is a tidy village of considerable size, built 

 along the landward edge of what has at one time been an island, 

 but by artificial banking has been converted into an isthmus, with 

 a good pier and harbour, and having in it a turreted mansion, of 

 which Symson in the seventeenth century speaks as "the Isle, a good 

 stone house,which belongs to Patrick Huston of Drummaston." There 

 are two rounded isthmuses— the inner and outer Isle. At the sea/- 

 ward side of the former are still standing the walls of a small chapel, 

 roughly built of whinstone and shell lime. Its outer measurement 

 is only twelve paces by seven. This building is believed to belong 

 to the fourteenth century, and would be served by monks from 

 Whithorn Priory. Beside it are traces of older foundations, sup- 

 posed to be those of the original Candida Casa of St. Ninian, which 

 is referred to by old writers as having been a land-mark for sailors 

 and being surrounded on three sides by the sea. A life-boat liouse 

 is now built on the same neck ot land, and so situated that the 

 boat can be launched into a bay either on the north or south, as 

 the direction of the storm may render necessary. Traces of a triple 

 line of ancient fortifications may be discerned on the two Isles. 



Instead of returning direct to Whithorn, the party drove 

 along the coast line of Wigtown Bay to Cruggleton Chapel — a 

 small pre-Eeformation building, and the church of an ancient 

 parish, now united with Sorbie — which is in process of being 

 restored by Mr Galloway, at the instance of the Marquis of Bute. 



Field Afeeiing. 1th of September. 



A visit was paid to Dornock Churchyard, where Mr John 

 Nicholson pointed out some ancient sepulchral monuments. The 

 Lochmaben Stane at Old Graitney was next inspected, and then 

 Graitney Churchyard was visited. The antiquities of the place were 

 explained by the Eev. William Bell of Graitney. Stapleton Tower 

 was next explored, and, on the return to Annan, Mr Frank Miller 

 acted as guide to Edward Irving's birthplace and his father's 

 tannery. The Eev. William Bell, Mr John Dunlop, teacher, of 

 Dornock ; Mr John Nicholson of Stapleton Grange ; Mr and 

 Mrs Gunning, and Miss Hamilton, of Castlebank, were elected 

 members. 



