Explore St Andrews

The St Andrews Preservation Trust Museum.

The St Andrews Preservation Trust Museum is a small, independent museum in a lovely 17th century fisherman's house in the heart of the town. It was once inhabited by up to twenty people at any one time. In the 1930s, the building was sympathetically restored and purchased in the 1960s by the Preservation Trust.

The Preservation Trust Museum mounts several exhibitions each year, 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.

The Preservation Trust Museums' collections includes 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, as well as a wide variety of publications with a local history flavour.

The Preservation Trust Museum is home to 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 in the award-winning gardens of the Preservation Trust Museum, visitors can enjoy a glimpse into the past courtesy of Great Granny's Wash House and a recently restored outside privy.

The Preservation Trust Museum's '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.

Open daily 2 to 5pm: Easter Week, May to Sept & St Andrews Week (Nov) & other times. - Free Admission although donations are welcome. The free St Andrews Preservation Trust Museum guide leaflet is available in English, French, German and Spanish.