The Burgh

The development of the Burgh of St Andrews began between 1144 and 1153 when Bishop Robert, with the active enthusiasm and permission of David I, raised it to this status. In 1614 St Andrews was made a Burgh of Regality and in 1620 James VI confirmed it as a Royal Burgh. The word Burgh is pronounced similarly to the southern word Borough and has the same meaning.

The Trade Guilds dominated commercial life in medieval St Andrews. There were seven trades: Bakers, Fleshers, Shoemakers, Smiths, Tailors, Weavers, and Wrights. Part trade union and part regulator they set the quality standards for their trade and terms of employment.

The Lammas Fair (held on the second Monday and Tuesday in August) is the only remnant of the five great fairs held annually in medieval times. It was a hiring fair and time for religious observance. It has evolved into a gigantic town centre fun fair, with the rides moving from town to town in Fife to form the Lammas Fair in these towns.

Mary Queen of Scots visited St Andrews five times between 1561 and 1565. She stayed in St Andrews in 1562 in a house on South Street, now used as a library by St Leonard's School. Queen Mary's House is a fine example of a sixteenth century Scottish town house.

St Andrews' change from a medieval city to a modern town was accelerated by Major Playfair who became Provost Sir Hugh Lyon Playfair (1786 - 1861). His work to modernise St Andrews encountered much vested interest and lethargy, to which he responded with diplomacy and bullying. Equally important was the work of Dr John Adamson, Medical Officer of Health at about the same period. His main achivement was to overhaul the Burgh's sanitory provisions.

In the past century St Andrews has seen further expansion, as have most towns. St Andrews can now only expand in two directions. To the south the first expansion this century was of local council housing. To the west the more recent expansion has been of owner occupied housing.

In medieval times the tourists came for religious reasons, now they come for other reasons. The legacy of the Culdees, the Archbishops, the Kings and Queens and by the Provosts can be seen by visitors. The buildings, quadrangles and chapels of Scotland's oldest university are for all to see. The Home of Golf with courses for everyone to play on, ranging from the Old Course to the recent Duke's Course, is another attraction.

This site is under construction.