The Trust Museum
The
St Andrews Preservation Trust Museum is a small, independent museum situated
in a lovely 17th century house in the heart of the town’s old fisher
quarter, a stone’s throw from both the Castle and the Cathedral. As
a fisher home, Nos 12-16 North Street were once inhabited by up to twenty
people at any one time. During the 1930s, this building and the adjacent
building were sympathetically restored by local architect, James H. Scott,
and converted into a single family home. Purchased in the 1960s by the Preservation
Trust, the building was separated, one half becoming the Trust Museum.
The Museum contains a wealth of fascinating information and objects pertaining to the history of St Andrews and its people. The ground floor is home to permanent displays featuring old St Andrews shops and businesses including grocers, Aikman & Terras, Keith’s the Chemist and Duncan’s the Dentist. Outside visitors can enjoy a glimpse into the past courtesy of Great Granny’s Wash House and a recently restored outside privy. The Museum’s award-winning gardens provide the perfect place to relax and enjoy a well-earned rest in secluded and peaceful surroundings.
The Museum collections include fine art, costume, furniture and many other objects with local connections. There is also an important collection of some 10 000 photographs, postcards, slides and glass negatives. These can be viewed by arrangement with the curator and copies can be requested. Visitors can purchase postcards, prints and souvenirs from the Museum Shop as well as a wide variety of publications with a local history flavour.
A
recent venture is the ‘Museum Juniors’ section, providing fun
worksheets and competitions for children aged 3-12. The worksheets are specific
to each exhibition and have proved very popular with younger visitors.
The Museum mounts several exhibitions each year so there is always something new to see and enjoy. Recent exhibitions include the history of the ancient harbour and the local fishing community, the Victorians, the 1950s and the development of St Andrews from settlement to city. Information on individual exhibitions and events is available here.
Visiting the Museum
The Trust Museum and Garden is located at 12 North Street, St Andrews, Fife,
KY16 9PW. View
map and get directions (opens in a new window)
Opening times
The museum is open daily from 2pm-5pm during exhibitions and by appointment with the Curator at other times. For further information please contact the Curator at the address above, or on 01334 477629, or email curator@standrewspreservationtrust.org.uk
Free Admission
Admission to exhibitions is free although donations are welcome. We are a small, independent museum and receive no funding from the local authority. A free guide leaflet is available in English, French, German and Spanish.
Disabled access to the Museum
The Museum is a listed building and while every effort has been made to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act, the Museum is currently not wheelchair accessible. However, after descending two steps, the permanent exhibition area and the gardens are all on one level.
Facilities & Parking
There are two cafés close to the Museum, and there are public toilets five minutes walk away in Church Square. There are no parking facilities, toilets or café offered at the Museum itself.
Publications available at the Museum
Leaflets - available exclusively at the museum
Museums in Fife
As well as the Trust Museum, there are several other museums in the area which are well worth visiting. Each provides a unique insight into local history. The local museums and online resources section includes websites for a selection of these visitor attractions.
