Deans Court

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Deans Court

Deans Court is a student hall of residence at the University of St Andrews, and arguably the oldest dwelling house in the city of St Andrews. It is devoted exclusively to postgraduates, and is comprised of a main building and four annexes, two on North Street, two on South Street.

1 History
2 Present
3 External links
4 References

[edit] History

The main building of Deans Court has its origins in the twelfth century, when its vaulted core may have served as a section of the Archdeacon's house. Today, the core is used as a dining hall, which students have affectionately dubbed the 'cosy dungeon'. A small panel moved from its original site, bears the arms of James Haldenstone, Prior from 1418 to 1443. Although most Priory lands were seized during the Reformation, Deans Court was saved by Sir George Douglas, an elder of the Parish Chuch who had helped Mary Queen of Scots escape from imprisonment at Loch Leven. Douglas remodelled Deans Court around 1585, adding a round-arched foot-gate in the courtyard and possibly extending the property to the west.

In the 17th century, at least a section of the building was home to Sir James Gregory, an astronomer and mathematician who was Professor of Mathematics at the University from 1668 to 1674. In his honor, the section of North Street adjacent to Deans Court was known as Gregory's Green during this period. The building was Victorianized in 1876 and became home to the Stirling family, whose coat of arms can still be seen above the archway to the inner garden. In 1930, the property was acquired for the University by Sir James Irvine, and was heavily renovated over the subsequent two decades. It was re-opened as a postgraduate hall of residence in 1952.

[edit] Present

About 50 postgraduates call Deans Court home. They live in standard single rooms and receive catered meals during the week. The residence forms a central point for the postgraduate community at St Andrews, hosting events such as movie nights and an annual Halloween party.

But the ghosts of Deans Court have not been laid to rest. The three-legged black dog thought to haunt the graveyard of St Andrew's Cathedral has made several appearance in the halls, as has a woman in white.