Redevelopment of St Andrews Heritage Museum & Garden

Thanks to National Lottery players

St Andrews Heritage Museum & Gardens first opened in 1981. Our premises are on 12 North Street, a charming 17th century fisher house. It is located on the east end of the street, in a place that is unique within the Town.

The Museum & Garden underwent its first-ever major redevelopment over 2024/2025. This transformational project, completed in September 2025, restored the roof of the existing 17th century building, improved access, created a modern exhibition & events space (‘The Garden Gallery’) with new visitor facilities and exhibitions.

Our Redevelopment Journey

The project cost over £1.7 million and was completed in 18 months. In 2023 / 2024 we secured major funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and a host of national and local funders, alongside generous individuals, to make this ambitious project a reality. Works to repair to roof started in March 2024 after the museum had been decanted of all furniture and artefacts – a massive job in itself that was successfully achieved thanks to the hard work of volunteers. The roofing works presented many challenges, and the weather certainly wasn’t on our side, however the works saw the installation of an entirely new roof structure with the existing 17th century beams retained, preserving its heritage and ensuring the building was safe.

In October 2024 main construction works began to create ‘The Garden Gallery’ to the rear of the existing building and to modernise the existing museum and outhouses. The works were completed in August 2025 and the museum reopened to the public soon after on 14 September 2025. Over 1,000 people, visitors both old and new, came along to see the museum & garden again within the first 16 days of opening – a wonderful start to the next chapter in the museum’s history.

View of the first floor museum exhibition space showing upper gallery area and centrepiece table with various models and artworks on surrounding walls.

Funders

The transformational redevelopment of the Museum & Garden has only been made possible thanks to the wonderful support received from our funders.

Thank you all!

  • Kinburn (St Andrews) Charitable Trust   
  • St Andrews Heritage Trust  
  • Robert Barr’s Charitable Trust   
  • New Park Educational Trust    
  • The W M Mann Foundation  
  • The Mary Moore Trust 
  • The Cookie Matheson Charitable Trust
  • St Andrews Pilgrim Foundation
  • Princes Exchange Foundation
  • Abertay Historical Society
The University of St Andrews' logo. Included for their support in the museum redevelopment.
The Pilgrim Trust's grantee logo. Included for their support in the museum redevelopment.
The Northwood Charitable Trust's logo.
The St Andrews Community Trust's logo. Included for their support in the museum redevelopment.
MGS's funding logo. Included for their support in the museum redevelopment.
The Garfield Weston Foundation's logo. Included for their support in the museum redevelopment.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund logo.
The Swire Charitable Trust logo.
The AHF logo. Included for their support in the museum redevelopment.