Speaker Dr Robin Evetts - The Site of the Greyfriars, St Andrews

Tue, May 7th 2019 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm


At this week’s meeting Angus Peters introduced guest speaker Robin Evetts, who presented a talk on The site of the Greyfriars, St Andrew’. 

Dr Evetts is well-known in the town as a member or former member of several local trusts and charities which made use of his expertise in architectural design and historic buildings. Indeed, he was a Senior Inspector of Historic Buildings with Historic Scotland having completed his PhD at the University of St Andrews on the 19th century architectural development of St Andrews.

 

Dr Evetts gave a fascinating illustrated talk on the development of Greyfriars in the context of the evolution of St Andrews’ historical town centre. He began by showing how the town had initially a north/ south layout around Castle Streetwith most development stretching from the Cathedral down to Abbey Street. After the town received Burgh status the current three street East/West grid pattern emerged. At its western extremity between Market and North Street the Greyfriars Franciscan Friary was built by Bishop Kennedy in 1458 and was destroyed during the Reformation. Mary Queen of Scots gave the site to the town in 1567.

 

In much the same way, albeit on a different scale to Edinburgh, the new town of St Andrews was developed around the edges of the gardens and orchards of the old Friary. Very little of the original Greyfriars remains apart fromremnants of wall fragments and the well in neighbouring Greyfriars Gardens. In 2012 roadworks along Greyfriars Gardens were suspended when skeleton remains were discovered and identified by archaeologists as those of Franciscan monks.

 

The local nature of the talk led to a lively question and answer session. John Fernie, giving the vote of thanks, noted how members would look more carefully at the town’s architecture in future and thanked Robin for giving an entertaining and informative talk.

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