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St.Andrews
 St.
Andrews is a matchless blend of past and present. As a town
it has no equal in Scotland. Its ecclesiastical connections
began at least as early as 747; the burgh came into being
about 1144; the University, the first in Scotland, began in
1411. Golf was a recognized game there in 1552.
The history of St. Andrews is crowded with
incidents which punctuate the cavalcade of Scottish history,
and the growth of Scottish institutions and culture, with
the names of famous prelates, martyrs and reformers and their
deeds to be found in all quarters of the town.
Of the many historical buildings of St.
Andrews, first to be noted must be the Cathedral, which founded
in 1160 and then consecrated in 1318, was by far the largest
church in Scotland before its destruction at the reformation.
The adjoining Priory was similarly the most important monastic
foundation of its time. The Castle, founded in 1200 as a fortress
and home of the Bishop of St. Andrews, possess the unusual
feature of a bottle dungeon. From the Castle, Archbishop Beaton
watched George Wishart burn at the stake, himself to perish
at the hands of an assassin soon afterwards.
The United College, principal center of
University life, stands on the site of St. Salvators College
( 1450 ) and includes the old tower and collegiate church.
The ancient thorn close to St. Marys College is said to have
been planted by Mary Queen of Scots. The University Library
building contains the old hall in which the Parliament of
Scotland met in 1645-46. These are but a very few of the colorful
links with Scotland's brave past, and the whole is wrapped
in a quiet awareness of the age-old pride and dignity which
no other town in the country can hope to meet or beat.
For more than a hundred years St. Andrews
has been famed as a holiday resort, not only on account of
its golf, but also for its history, scenery and its equable
and invigorating climate. It is almost unnecessary to say
that the Royal & Ancient Golf Club is the premier golf
club in the world. All the courses are an immense attraction
to vacationers, and it is the ambition of every golfer to
play on the world famous " Old Course."
 There
are many putting greens in different parts of the town, and
abundant facilities for tennis, lawn bowling, swimming and
boating. Indeed it is to be doubted whether there is in Britain
a stretch of beach to equal the magnificent two-mile stretch
at the West Sands. Almost equally appealing are the East Sands
and Kinkell Braes, a stretch of rocky foreshore much enjoyed
by young and old alike.
St. Andrews can best be seen on foot. Start at the old harbor
and walk up to the Cathedral and Castle and the onwards to
the " Old Course " and beach. A further walk up
North Street, Market Street and South Street will provide
the walker with an opportunity to visit most of the best sites
in St. Andrews.
"The parishes of St Andrews and
St. Leonards lie on the south bank of the River Eden and are
bounded by Leuchars, Kingsbarns, Denino, Cameron, Ceres and
Kemback. From the Eden to the city of St. Andrews the coast
presents a flat, firm, sandy beach so famous in the annals
of golfing. On Strathkinness moor and on Nydie Hill, both
at the west of the parish, are quarries of excellent freestone,
of which most of the houses in St. Andrews are built. The
city contains 3 principal streets, all intersected by smaller
ones, all well paved and lit by gas. The weaving of linen
is carried on to a considerable extent for establishments
in Newburgh and Dundee. The making of golf balls was long
a great branch of industry but is now extinct. A spinning
mill was tried, but did not succeed. There is now an extensive
steam sawmill near the harbour. Flour mills on a large scale
are worked by the Incorporation of Bakers." edited from
Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland published 1856.
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