Cold Case Whithorn

Name: Cold Case Whithorn
Address: The Whithorn Trust 45-7 George Street, Whithorn, DG88NS, GB
Telephone: +441988500469

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Cold Case Whithorn

Cold Case Whithorn is a new research project, which is reopening the vast Whithorn archaeological archive, and applying scientific methods to dating it.

Whithorn has been a benchmark in archaeology, particularly thanks to the extensive research dig carried out in the 1980’s by Peter Hill and his team. The Whithorn Trust was established in 1988, when the excavations unearthed discoveries which were so rich and important for the story of Scotland's development that the area became a Scheduled Monument and further excavations were commissioned. The W

hithorn Archaeological Collection is part of the Dumfries and Galloway Collection which has Recognised status. It is housed at Stranraer, where the regional museum is situated. The Whithorn Trust has launched Cold Case Whithorn to commission expert analysis of Whithorn’s extensive skeletal remains led by Dr. Adrian Maldonado, Glenmorangie Fellow at National Museums Scotland. The project will illuminate the unsolved questions: who were the earliest Christians in Scotland – at Whithorn - and when did they arrive? How and when did Whithorn develop as a monastery? Scientists can now answer this, extracting individual portraits from osteological analysis. In addition to this, the project will excite public debate by sharing films of the results on social media, opening “staff only” areas, carrying out “CSI” style science in local Primary Schools and our secondary school will visit research laboratories and meet experts. Our project continues to develop in 2021, with new testing and other areas of research - follow our journey here!

07/01/2025

We wanted to take one last shot of Bronwyn Chomitz in front of all her work - the Cold Case Whithorn project wouldn't have happened without her. An incredible 52,000 items later, it's all complete and Bronwyn is moving to pastures new, where we wish her all the success she deserves. These are boxes not only full of finds but full of future potential!

12/12/2024

Lochlann of Galloway died on 12 December 1200. As the son of Uchtred, Lord of Galloway, Lochlann became the Lord of Galloway after his father's death at the hands of his uncle, Gille Brigte. Lochlann, a vassal to King William of Scotland, married Helena, daughter of Richard de Morville, becoming the Constable of Scotland through this union. His son, Alan of Galloway, succeeded him.

Lochlann's rule involved conflicts with his uncle's heirs and resistance leaders, but he maintained control with the support of King William. He participated in battles, including defeating Domnall mac Uilleim in 1187. Lochlann's policies aligned with King William's, welcoming French and English settlers into his lands, which distanced him from Gaelic traditions. He founded Glenluce Abbey in 1191/1192.

In 1200, while in England with King William, Lochlann dealt with his wife's property claims and died, being buried there. His loyalty to the Scottish crown was notable, and his preferred title was "Constable of the King of Scots."

11/12/2024

Did you know that there was a connection between the knight, Fergus of Galloway, St Ninian, and Whithorn? As detailed in the “Legends of St Ninian and Machor” a fourteenth century poem in Scots, it is claimed that Sir Fergus Macdowell was warned of an attack by English raiders, who had entered eastern Galloway. He believed that he had been warned by St Ninian, who appeared in a dream. Having set out to face the raiders, battle was prevented when the raiders were put to flight by the trumpet blast from Sir Fergus Macdowell's trumpeter. Sir Fergus appears to have then gone on a pilgrimage to Whithorn Priory Cathedral. As thanks, he paid for the “quire rycht wele tyle.” (Medieval Scots for retiling the roof of the Choir/eastern part of Whithorn Priory Cathedral). While many details are vague, the poem says this took place in the reign of David II of Scotland which could be anytime between 1331-1371CE, it is an insight into how the secular and religious world interacted in the medieval world. As strange as it may seem to many today, secular military leaders like Sir Fergus, would attribute success or otherwise to the intervention of saints like St Ninian.

27/11/2024

Bishop Walter was Bishop of Whithorn between 1209 and 1235 CE. We know that Walter was Chamberlain (a Household manager) to Alan, Lord of Galloway. While probably born in Galloway, his career as Bishop is vague. We have hints he was active in Galloway, with a charter by him confirming the transfer of St Fillians Church near Sorbie to the ownership of Dryburgh Abbey in the Borders. He was also very much involved with the Archdiocese of York, providing episcopal services there. King John of England ordered the payment of “20 merks” to Walter for his services at York. His death in 1235 CE, around the same time as his Lord, Alan of Galloway, is thought to have been part of a turning point, the end of the special autonomy of Galloway within the Kingdom of Scotland.
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26/11/2024

The Covenanters were a group of Scottish Protestants who took their name from the National Covenant, an agreement signed in Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh in 1638. This agreement was a pledge to defend the religious settlement of the Church of Scotland. They wanted the Church of Scotland to uphold the values of Scottish Presbyterianism, a less elaborate and hierarchical form of Protestantism. They were against changes in the Church of Scotland, enacted by Charles I and his father James VI to make it more like the Church of England, such as elaborate services and Bishops.

21/11/2024

School visits this week! The students got to handle objects from the collection and see all the behind the scenes work that goes on in the museums. 🔍

20/11/2024

Thomas de Kirkcudbright was Bishop of Galloway from 1294 but his death date is unknown. It has been placed somewhere between 4th April 1324 and 23rd Sept 1326.
This gentleman is also known as Thomas de Daulton. It is not known when or where he was born but it is most likely from around Dumfries and Galloway. He had connections to both Galloway and Annandale. Some think it may be Dalton in Annandale.
Robert the Competitor, 5th Lord of Annandale and grandfather of the future King Robert took Thomas in as a foster son and protégé. It was while he was Chaplain for De Brus he was elected Bishop of Galloway by the chapter at Whithorn. The Balliol king of the times did not like this appointment to start with.
It was never clear if his loyalties lay with the Brus or Balliol families. At points in his career he was more cooperative with Edward 1 of England. However, later in his career, he added his seal to Pro Bruce documents including one on Roberts succession.

18/11/2024

Feudalism in Scotland underwent significant development during the reign of David I, who ascended the throne in 1124. David I is often credited with introducing Norman feudal practices to Scotland, which were instrumental in transforming the country's social and political landscape. His reign marked a period of consolidation of royal power and the establishment of a structured feudal hierarchy.

14/11/2024

Some more fun on-site with young people in the 80's and 90's for this week's . Working in the trenches, cleaning small finds and glass-blowing lessons from a wizard! It is wonderful to see how vibrant and exciting excavation visits were then.

13/11/2024

Wigtown Castle was a royal fortress situated along the River Bladnoch, just south of Wigtown in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Around 10 miles from Whithorn. Constructed in the 12th century, it was seized by Robert de Brus, the 5th Lord of Annandale, in 1286. In 1291, Sir Walter de Corrie, the castle's governor, surrendered it to King Edward I of England. Richard Siward was appointed governor in 1292, succeeded by Henry de Percy in 1296, and then John de Hodleston in 1297. The castle was taken by William Wallace in 1297, after which Adam Gordon assumed the governorship. King Robert the Bruce reclaimed the castle following 1313, and it seems to have been torn down thereafter.

07/11/2024

This week's Throwback is the other reconstruction made on-site during the excavations. Likely learning from the previous attempt, we have some nice shots of the woodworking and construction of the structure.

06/11/2024

Whithorn Priory was a wealthy monastery within the Kingdom of Scotland in the late medieval period. It has been estimated that in 1561CE, the Priory's annual income stood at between 2540-3000 “Scots pounds,” (each medieval Scottish pound being more “valuable” than a pound today, an estimated adequate “annual” income for a priest being £20 a year). While this is estimated to have been only between a fifth to a quarter of the income of St Andrews Priory Cathedral is it thought to be more than that of Crossraguel Abbey in Ayrshire and Culross Abbey in Fife. Thought to be in the middle to upper “bracket” of income for Scottish monasteries, this income was not just from the pilgrimage to St Ninian’s Shrine but also a substantial “Portfolio” of land and property.

Address

The Whithorn Trust 45-7 George Street
Whithorn
DG88NS

Telephone

+441988500469

Website

http://www.whithorn.com/

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