St Ninian's Cave , Scotland

On the Solway shore south of Whithorn, St. Ninian’s Cave is said to have been St. Ninian’s retreat. In 1871 an incised cross was found and excavation in 1884 revealed a number of crosses now removed to the Historic Scotland Museum in Whithorn for safe-keeping.

The understanding of Saint Ninian’s Cave comes from a series of remarkable archaeological discoveries. Excavations in the 1880s revealed boulders and loose slabs of stone carved with crosses and other designs. Other crosses had already been found carved into the cave walls.

The carvings date mainly to the 700s and 800s, although one stone might have been carved as late as 1600. Many are thought to be the work of pilgrims, or perhaps monks from Whithorn occupying the cave as a place of retreat.

Tradition holds that Ninian was a Briton who had studied in Rome, who established an episcopal see at the Candida Casa in Whithorn, that he named the see for Saint Martin of Tours, that he converted the southern Picts to Christianity, and that he is buried at Whithorn. There are many variations of the story including that he left for Ireland, and died there in 432. Dates for his birth are derived from the traditional mention of Saint Martin, who died in 397.

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