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St Andrews, South Street, University Library

Library (17th Century)

Site Name St Andrews, South Street, University Library

Classification Library (17th Century)

Alternative Name(s) Old University Library; West Burn Lane; St Mary's College; Department Of Psychology

Canmore ID 93294

Site Number NO51NW 249

NGR NO 51021 16588

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/93294

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Digital Images

View from South East of St Mary's College and University Library.
View from South East of St Mary's College and University Library.View of University from North.Basement plan showing ground floor construction.General oblique aerial view of the town centred on the churches, colleges, libraries and town-hall, taken from the SSE.Foundation Plan.SectionsOblique aerial view centred on the colleges, museum, libraries, church and town hall, taken from the WSW.Oblique aerial view centred on the colleges, museum, libraries, church and town hall, taken from the SE.ElevationsView of panel above entrance door, University Library, St Andrews.View of University Library from South West.Interior view of staircase in University Library.View of interior of University Library - detail of entrance doorway to Reading Room.General oblique aerial view of the town centred on the churches, colleges, libraries and town-hall, taken from the E.Section C CSections AA and BBView from West of St Mary's College and University Library, St Andrews.Interior - view of Reading Room from south west
Oblique aerial view centred on the colleges, museum, libraries and town hall, taken from the W.Oblique aerial view centred on the colleges, museum, libraries, church and town hall, taken from the SSW.Oblique aerial view centred on the colleges, museum, libraries, church and town hall, taken from the S.Ground Floor PlanRoof PlanView of University Library from South.View of interior of University Library - detail of steel book stacks and staircase in North West corner.View of steel book-stacks from south
General oblique aerial view of the town centred on the churches, colleges, libraries and town-hall, taken from the W.Student drawing showing, south elevation and floor plans for ground and first floors.
Title: The University Library, St Andrews, Fife

Basement Floor PlanFoundation and Roof PlansSecond Floor PlanGeneral oblique aerial view of the town centred on the churches, colleges, libraries and town-hall, taken from the SSW.Student drawings showing North Elevation, Cross Section and details of window jambs.
Title: The University Library, St Andrews, FifeSt Andrews, general view, showing Queen's Gardens and South Street.  Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north.

Administrative Areas

  • Council Fife
  • Parish St Andrews And St Leonards
  • Former Region Fife
  • Former District North East Fife
  • Former County Fife

Architecture Notes

NO51NW 249.00 51021 16588 University Library

NO51NW 249.01 51027 16547 1889-90 Extension

NO51NW 249.02 51032 16526 1908 Extension

ARCHITECT: John Gardner, reconstruction, 1764-7

Robert Reid, proposed extension, 1827

Sir Robert R. Anderson, remodelled Senate Room, 1904

Sir Robert Lorimer, Carnegie extension, 1907-9

J Donald Mills, restoration of Old Parliament Hall, 1928-29

REFERENCE:

ST ANDREWS UNIVERSITY LIBRARY:

Plans: Robert Reid, 1827, plans for proposed additions

R S Lorimer, 1907, plans for Carnegie extension

For further details see copy of Inventory to St Andrews Vniversity Plans in NMRS

Activities

Publication Account (1981)

St. Andrews boasts the oldest university in Scotland: it received its bull of foundation in 1413. The bull allowed for five faculties - canon law, civil law, theology, medicine and the liberal arts. These faculties had varying fortunes. For example, medicine was taught only spasmodically until the sixteenth century (Nicholson, 1975, 273) and in the poverty-stricken eighteenth century, the university sold medical degrees. St. John's College was the cornerstone of the university, formally established in 1419. Its main teaching sphere was to be arts and theology, but after 1461 the building fell out of use (Cowan, 1976, 232). Possibly St. John's had been superseded by the establishment of St.Salvator's College in mid-century. The stately tower and chapel beneath are part of Bishop Kennedy's original foundation, but the class rooms round about it are modern. The early sixteenth century witnessed the foundation of two more colleges, St. Leonards and St. Marys. St. Leonard's Chapel boasts some early work, but what remains of St. Mary's College has been considerably worked over and modernised (RCAM, 1933, 248-9). The University library was built in 1612 over the foundations of St. John's College. In 1747, the college of St. Leonard united with St. Salvator to help meet the financial needs of the institution.

Information from ‘Historic St Andrews: The Archaeological Implications of Development’ (1981).

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