St Salvator's Hall

St Salvator's Hall
Alternative names Sallies
General information
Architectural style English Domestic Gothic
Town or city St Andrews, Fife
Country Scotland Scotland
Coordinates 56°20′31″N 2°47′32″W / 56.3419°N 2.7921°W / 56.3419; -2.7921Coordinates: 56°20′31″N 2°47′32″W / 56.3419°N 2.7921°W / 56.3419; -2.7921
Construction started 1930
Completed 1933
Client University of St Andrews
Design and construction
Architect J. Donald Mills (Mills & Shepherd)

St Salvator's Hall (affectionately known as Sallies) is a student Hall of residence at the University of St Andrews. It lies close to the quadrangle of the United College, St Andrews and St Salvator's Chapel, a foundation which was endowed by King James II of Scotland.[1] The Hall is in an area between North Street and The Scores. Architecturally, it has been described as a "rambling Gothic dormitory".[2]

History

Edward Harkness, benefactor.

In the 1920s the vice-chancellor of the University of St Andrews, Sir James Irvine made plans to extend university buildings and St Salvator's Hall was one of the first outcomes of this vision.[3] The hall, originally a male-only residence, was built between 1930 and 1933, funded by the American Philanthropist, Edward Harkness and modelled on Oxbridge colleges.[4] The architects were Mills & Shepherd[5] who had previously built University Hall.[6] It was extended between 1937 and 1939 to the cost of £40,000,[7] and underwent a £1.7 million[8] refurbishment in 1994. Since 1971 the building and its sundial have been listed as Grade B by Historic Scotland.[5][9] The stained glass windows, designed by William Wilson,[10] and paintings in its oak-panelled dining room feature associates and benefactors of the University of St Andrews such as David Beaton, James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose and Edward Harkness.

On 15 January 1945 many students at the hall became ill after consuming meat that originated from a local butcher contaminated with Arsenic trioxide.[11] Ninety of the 100 men who sat down to lunch were sick with flux.[12]

Facilities

St Salvator's Hall

There are 65 single rooms and 63 shared rooms. In total it houses 196 students. As well as several rooms downstairs the hall has three floors: A, B and C; and a further wing known as D block which was the former servants quarters. Until recently residents of D block were unable to access the main building without going outside, however, a hallway extension was recently built, allowing interior access. Downstairs there is an oak-panelled Common Room with a Grand Piano and a television provided for the use of students. It is filled with photographs of students from the 1930s to the present day.[13] St Salvator's Hall has its own annexe, Gannochy House, which, until 2014, housed only postgraduates; it is no longer home to postgraduates but rather 85 undergraduate students who dine and use communal spaces in the main building of St Salvator's. Gannochy House received its name from the Gannochy Trust which helped to fund its construction. The annexe is fitted with kitchens, a study room, laundry facilities and its own courtyard.[14]

At the west wing of the building there is a small library and a study room. A computer room with pigeon holes for residents' post is also situated on the ground floor. In the west basement there is a snooker table, table tennis, an overhead projector and laundry facilities. It is the setting for movie nights organised by the Hall Committee. The basement was refurbished in the summer of 2009, aided by a generous bequest.[15]

The student bedrooms are spread on three floors above. In the early years each bedroom was provided with a fireplace[16] but now they come with a desk, a wardrobe (sometimes built-in), a bookcase and a wash hand basin. There are pantries and bathrooms on each floor. Each room offers stunning views of either St Andrews Bay or the edge of the United College Quadrangle and the front lawn. The D-Block extension houses some students and is connected to the main building by a corridor.

Students are catered for 19 meals during the week; all except weekend dinners.[17] Two courses are offered at lunchtime and three courses at dinner.

The Hall Committee, headed by Senior Student Iain Paterson, meets weekly in the Common Room. The Hall Committee are responsible for hosting weekly events for residents from themed ceilidhs to pub quizzes and whisky tasting. In addition to this, four members of the Hall Committee for the Executive Committee who work closely with the residence managers and Wardennial Team

The current Warden is Ms. Samantha Lister and the Residence Manager is Ms. Deborah Anderson. There are an additional four Assistant Wardens who are available each evening for residents to contact.[18]

It is used as conference venue and as accommodation for residential camps during the summer.[19]

Reputation and Traditions

St Salvator's Hall is acknowledged by students[20] to be one of the most prestigious residences in St Andrews[21][22] and one with its own distinct traditions. A 1965 Guide book described it as "one of the finest students' residences in Britain".[23]

Formal Dinners

A High Table takes place on Thursdays during term time; in which resident guests sit with the Senior Student, members of the Wardennial Team and a guest (usually an academic) from outside of the hall; preceding the three course meal is a sherry reception and following the meal is an evening of port, tea, coffee and a talk by the guest, both held in the Regents' Room. At each dinner students dress formally and wear their undergraduate gowns. Latin grace is said by the Warden and all hall residents stand as those on the High Table enter the dining hall. For the Christmas formal dinner all of the Hall Committee sit on the High Table then champagne and Christmas carols are enjoyed in the Common Room by all the students. At the end of the academic year a High Table dinner for graduating students (Valedictorians) is held.

Annual Events

Freshers' Week is organised by the hall committee and includes several events designed to integrate new students into life at the university. The ball is held at the beginning of the second semester and is organised by the Ball Conveners on the Hall Committee. On Sunday 19th of April 2015, the inaugural Honours Shield football match between McIntosh Hall and St Salvator's was played. Managed by Ex-Senior Student, Connor Roberts, St Salvator's won 6–5; it is hoped that this football match will continue to be held annually. Before final exams "Sallies Day" is celebrated on the front lawn where students picnic and drink Pimm's. The hall is well positioned for the annual May Dip and May Ball.

Notable People associated with St Salvator's Hall

References

  1. ↑ MacKay, James (1900). "National Dictionary of Biography". National Dictionary of Biography.
  2. ↑ Ellen Hale, USA TODAY, 31 August 2001.
  3. ↑ It is to be known as St Salvator's Hall. J.W. Arrowsmith, Limited. 1928.
  4. 1 2 http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1988/black-autobio.html Nobelprize.org. Retrieved on 20 August 2009
  5. 1 2 Historic Scotland Data Website - Listed Buildings
  6. ↑ Glendinning, Miles; MacInnes, Ranald; MacKechnie, Aonghus (1996). A History of Scottish Architecture: From the Renaissance to the Present Day. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-0-7486-0849-2.
  7. ↑ Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Retrieved on 20 August 2009
  8. ↑ Construction News. Retrieved on 20 August 2009
  9. ↑ Retrieved on 20 August 2009
  10. ↑ Brechin Cathedral - Stained Glass
  11. ↑ "Long-term Effects of Acute Arsenical Poisoning" by J. M. A. LENIHAN, Department of Clinical Physics, University of Glasgow, J. Soc. Occup. Med. (1981)31, 144-147
  12. ↑ Lenihan, J (1988). The Crumbs of Creation: Trace elements in history, medicine, industry, crime and folklore. CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-85274-390-4.
  13. ↑ "St Salvator's Hall | Student accommodation | University of St Andrews". www.st-andrews.ac.uk. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
  14. ↑ "Gannochy House | Student accommodation | University of St Andrews". www.st-andrews.ac.uk. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
  15. ↑ Retrieved on 20 August 2009 Archived 5 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  16. ↑ 1948 University Pamphlet
  17. ↑ St Salvator's Hall Pamphlet
  18. ↑ "St Salvator's Hall wardennial team | Student accommodation | University of St Andrews". www.st-andrews.ac.uk. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
  19. ↑ St Salvator's Hall - St Andrews, Conference, Accommodation, Events
  20. ↑ "Willie made a good choice as Sallies is by far the best Hall" http://www.ciao.co.uk/St_Andrews_University__22851 Retrieved on 20 August 2009
  21. ↑ "Sallies...is one of the most prestigious halls" http://www.unofficial-guides.com/universities/view/title/St._Andrews_University Retrieved on 20 August 2009.
  22. ↑ "St. Salvatore’s (sic) Hall, a prestigious residence" http://hvmaturelife.com/articles/article.aspx?id=1145 Retrieved on 20 August 2009
  23. ↑ Moray McLaren, The Shell Guide to Scotland, (Ebury Press, 1965), p404 ASIN B0000CMQQ2
  24. ↑ The Independent, (1 June 2009). Retrieved on 20 August 2009.
  25. ↑ "Encounters of a Mathematician", (May 2009). Retrieved on 20 August 2009
  26. ↑ Dundee University Archives
  27. ↑ "Pilot Training in the wartime Royal Air Force" by Francis Bennion (2006).
  28. ↑ St Andrews Students Association
  29. ↑ Cramb, Auslan. "Prince William and Kate Middleton return to St Andrews University for anniversary celebrations". UK Daily Telegraph - 25 February 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2015. In their first year, they lived a few doors apart at St Salvator's hall....
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