St Andrews, one of the smaller towns of Scotland, but no mean city in age, importance, or historical interest, stands on a rocky plateau at the edge of St Andrews Bay, and is 42 miles NNE. of Edinburgh. From the number and nature of the remains of ancient burial found in and around the city there can be little doubt that there was a settlement here in early prehistoric times. The monkish legend, long discredited, assigned its ecclesiastical origin to St Regulus (q.v.) or Rule, who, warned in a dream, brought certain bones of St Andrew from Patras in the 4th century, and, like too many foreigners in the present day, was wrecked at Muckros, afterwards called Kilrimont, now St Andrews. There is, however, reason for believing not only that those relics were brought in the 8th century, but that, before the end of the 6th, Cainnech or Kenneth, the patron saint of Kilkenny, had founded a monastery at Rig-Monadh, the Royal Mount, and that thus arose the name of Kilrimont. Early in the 10th century it seemingly became the seat of the 'Ardpiscop Albain,' the high bishop of the Scots; and in Queen Margaret's time he began to be called the Bishop of St Andrews. The Augustinian Priory, founded in 1144, was the richest and greatest of all the religious houses of Scotland. The Cathedral, founded in or about 1160 in presence of Malcolm IV., and consecrated in 1318 in presence of Robert the Bruce, was stripped of its images and ornaments in 1559, and afterwards fell into ruin. The extreme length inside is 355 feet, but at one time it had been several bays longer. The Bishop's Palace or Castle, first built in 1200, was frequently demolished and rebuilt, and is now a ruin. George Wishart and other martyrs were confined in its 'bottle-dungeon,' and Cardinal Beaton was slain within its massive walls. None of the ruins is less imposing or more interesting than the foundations on the Kirkhill—the site of the Celtic church. St Rnle's Tower has probably occasioned more discussion and perplexed more archaeologists than any other building in Scotland. Its arches, as well as that of its roofless chapel, approach the horseshoe in form. The parish church, which was almost entirely rebuilt in 1798, was founded in 1412. Its predecessor, which stood near the cathedral, was built three centuries earlier. Of the Black Friars Monastery a portion of the chapel remains; but of the Grey Friars almost nothing. The schools of St Andrews were noted in 1120; but the University, the first in Scotland, only dates from 1411. St Salvator's College was founded in 1455, St Leonard's in 1512, and St Mary's in 1537. St Salvator's and St Leonard's were united in 1747. The average attendance of students is about 200; but much is also being done for the higher education of women. The library contains over 100,000 volumes, and there is a good museum. The parish church of St Leonard's is roofless, and the congregation worships in the beautiful chapel of St Salvator's. The Madras College, founded and endowed by Dr Bell, has been recently remodelled and placed under a new governing body. The town was erected into a free burgh between 1144 and 1153. In those days the inhabitants were described as Scotch, French, Flemish, and English. In 1526 it was reckoned one of the six 'principale townis of merchandice of this realm;' but it has now almost no trade. The small harbour suffices for the few coasting vessels which frequent it. For a number of years the fishers were increasing rapidly, but the steam-trawlers are proving too much for them. There is a small brewery, and a smaller foundry. The manufacture of golf-clubs and balls is naturally a thriving industry, St Andrews being known all over the world as the headquarters of golf. It is a popular watering- place and summer-resort. For the St Andrews group of burghs, see the article PARLIAMENT, p. 778. Pop. (1801) 3263; (1891) 6853.
See, besides the Registrum Prioratus Sancti Andreæ (Baun. Club, 1841), the Register of the Kirk Session (Scot. Hist. Soc., 1889-90), and Martyrs and Confessors of St Andrews (1887), works by Martine (Reliquiæ, 1797), Grierson (1807), Lyon (1843), Rogers (1849), J. M. Anderson (1878), and A. Lang (1894).