A layered late-medieval and early-modern house remains in university use on one of St Andrews’ principal streets.
Quick facts
- Date
- Fabric from the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries; street wall 1790; additions 1912; east gable rebuilt 1971
- Architect / designer
- Historic builders unknown; additions by David Henry; railings and gate by Reginald Fairlie
- Type
- L-plan historic townhouse with round stair tower
- Designation
- Listed building, Category A (LB40770)
- OS grid reference
- NO 51024 16837
Architecture and continuing use
The three-storey rubble L-plan has crowstepped gables, a stone-spired round stair tower and details from several centuries. Later additions record adaptation without erasing the early form.
Its story
The building accumulated fabric from the fifteenth century onward, gained a new street wall in 1790 and university-related additions in 1912. It now houses Social Anthropology.
Why it is included
It extends the St Andrews record beyond monumental college buildings to a highly ranked domestic building in continuing academic use.
What to notice
- Stone-spired round stair tower.
- Crowsteps and irregular evidence of successive building phases.
- Reginald Fairlie’s railings and gate along North Street.
Reading the surroundings
This is a working university building rather than a general attraction. View from public streets and follow University access and security arrangements.
Timeline
- Fabric from the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries The building accumulated fabric from the fifteenth century onward, gained a new street wall in 1790 and university-related additions in 1912. It now houses Social Anthropology.
- Present University of St Andrews Department of Social Anthropology offices and teaching base.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Internal room use can change with University needs; the departmental contact page confirms the present institutional address.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: 71 North Street, St Andrews, LB40770 — Designation status, mapped location, construction phases, fabric, authorship and architectural or historical interest.
- University of St Andrews: Social Anthropology — Current department identity and use of 71 North Street.
- Fife Council: St Andrews Conservation Area Appraisal — Conservation-area context and Category A building register.
Location
OS grid reference NO 51024 16837 · Location confidence: High: the statutory designation supplies an official mapped National Grid Reference and the current source confirms the Place relationship or present identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
Suggest a marker correction
Suggest a more accurate position
The teal marker is the current published position. The orange marker starts slightly to its right so both remain visible; this is only a visual starting position. Tap the correct place on the map or drag the orange marker. Sending this form creates a private review entry only; it does not move the published marker.
Check this area in Google Maps Choose the Satellite layer there if useful.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. You can also enter checked coordinates below.