Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

• Type

  Legal Documents

  Title

  SM13321_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014480)

Summary

Description

The monument is the remains of the medieval Dominican Friary in St Andrews, also known as Blackfriars. The friary was in existence by 1464 and was destroyed in 1559. The monument includes the upstanding remains of the N transept of a chapel built in the early 16th century. The transept has a vaulted roof and an unusual semi-octagonal apse at the N end; it measures about 12m N-S by 11.5m transversely. The monument also includes ground S of the transept where there is very high potential for buried archaeological remains of the remainder of the chapel and other friary buildings. The monument lies 20m above sea level on the S side of South Street, immediately N of Madras College. The monument was last scheduled in 1994, but the documentation did not meet modern standards: the present rescheduling rectifies this.

The scheduled area is irregular on plan to include the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling specifically excludes the above-ground elements of all modern structures including modern walls, a flagpole, iron railings, signs, and street furniture. The scheduling specifically excludes the top 30cm of all roads, pavements and areas of hard standing.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it preserves the last upstanding portion of St Andrews' Dominican Friary and can make a significant addition to understanding and appreciation of Scotland's medieval religious houses. The upstanding N transept retains many structural and decorative characteristics, including a very unusual N apse. In addition, there is high potential for significant buried remains of other parts of the friary church and conventual buildings to survive, with the capacity to transform knowledge and understanding of the friary. The friary's chapel and conventual buildings would have been important and prominent parts of the medieval townscape, and the N transept remains an important feature in today's urban landscape and a visible reminder of St Andrews' medieval past. Historical documents provide a context for the development and then dissolution of the friary. The end of the friary coincided with momentous historical events in St Andrews in 1546-7 and 1559, which saw respectively the burning of George Wishart and murder of Cardinal Beaton, and a visit and sermon by John Knox. Our understanding of the character of medieval friaries in Scotland would be diminished if this monument was lost or damaged.

References

Bibliography

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.