St Andrews Preservation Trust

Wed, Apr 10th 2024 at 12:40 pm - 2:00 pm

Past, Present and Future explained by David Strachan

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Guest speaker was David Strachan on the subject of 'St Andrews Preservation Trust - Past, Present and Future’, explaining the on-going balance between developing and expanding while retaining and preserving the essence the town. Outlining the history of the Trust -founded in 1937- he described how St Andrews became a tourist attraction after the railway arrived in 1852, bringing more visitors than ever before. In the 1920s ancient fisher properties at the Lady Head on North Street were destroyed to make way for the Younger Hall. Post-war the town expanded to Lamond Drive and the Housing Act encouraged the demolition of old properties to make way for modern housing. Architect James Scott of Gillespie and Scott was a leading pioneer supporting the preservation of historic properties within the town. In 1937 he bought 12-20 North Street, merging two houses into one (a property that would have formerly housed many fisher families). Later the property was again divided -the eastern half would later become the home of the Preservation Trust Museum in 1982. In 1940 Ronald Cant, then Chairman of the Trust, along with founder of the Byre Theatre A.B.Paterson, Principal Sir James Irvine and artist Annabel Kidston, initiated the purchasing and renovation of properties including in Louden’s Close, Abbey Street, Fleming Place. Once renovated, the properties were sold to fund the next………The Preservation Trust museum showcases life in St Andrews and includes items from the chemist’s former shop and Aikman and Terrace, photographs, documents. The Trust has a sensory garden on the site of the original drying green and vegetable gardens; it also runs Boase Woodland, the Bogward and Kenly Green doocots; considers planning applications and offers recommendation or opposition. Since lock-down costs have spiralled. Income from property lettings helps but finances are always needed for future projects: replacing the roof, redesigning the garden to house exhibition spaces (artefacts are currently stored at out Cameron), toilets and offices. The vote of thanks was given by Angela Fowlis.

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