Monument to St Andrews martyrs set for restoration

The Martyrs’ Monument is an enduring symbol of the town’s key role in the Scottish Reformation – and the four men killed for their beliefs as the nation was torn by religious strife.

The monument has been under threat for several years after falling into decline, with parts of the masonry tumbling off and council chiefs fencing off the area.

But now a major appeal will see the memorial restored to its former glory after 100 anonymous donors stumped up the cash for the revamp.

Work is set to get under way within months on the restoration of the B-listed monument, which can be seen in millions of photographs and television pictures of the famous Royal and Ancient’s clubhouse, and a new historical display which will explain why the four townsmen were executed and their legacy.

Protestant martyrs Patrick Hamilton, Henry Forrest, George Wishart and Walter Milne were all burnt at the stake in St Andrews between 1528 and 1558, two years before the Reformation.

Hamilton, the first of 11 Protestant martyrs of the Scottish Reformation, was executed outside St Salvator’s Chapel.

To this day he inspires one of the town’s best-known traditions, as it is considered a curse for students to stand on the initials of his name, which were laid on the cobbles outside.

However, backers of the campaigner to restore the moment believe the history of the landmark has been largely forgotten.

The ten-metres m tall obelisk, designed by architect William Nixon, was erected in 1843 and is featured on many 19th-century postcards of St Andrews.

One of St Andrews’ most recognisable landmarks, the B-listed monument stands between the R&A Clubhouse and Hamilton Hall, the former student halls which are currently being converted into a luxury hotel.

However, it has been steadily suffering from erosion from being exposed to the weather, pollution and sea air.

The St Andrews Partnership, a new campaign group for the area, has led a taskforce to restore the moment, which has also included St Andrews Community Council, St Andrews Preservation Trust and Fife Council.

At least £182,000 is expected to be required to carry out a full restoration, which will include, restoring intricate carvings and removing moss and algae.

Patrick Loughlin, manager of the partnership, said enough funding was now in place to seek a contractor for the work, which is hoped to start in June.

He said: “We must have had more than 100 donations now, ranging from £5 to more than £30,000 from one donor.

“At this stage we are keeping the donors anonymous due to the somewhat sensitive nature of the memorial.

“We’ve not quite reached the fundraising target, but we’re close enough to be confident of having the funding by the time we appoint a contractor.”

Stephen Newsom, a specialist conservation architect who has been advising the taskforce, said: “You could ask ten people in St Andrews what the monument is about and I would imagine only one of them would actually know.

“Part of the project will include a new interpretation board next to the monument so that people can discover why it was built in the first place and the part St Andrews played in the Reformation.”