Museum of the University of St Andrews facts for kids
_%E2%80%94_CSF_SAU_HC_169-001.jpg) |
|
| Location | St. Andrews, Scotland |
|---|---|
The Wardlaw Museum is a cool place linked to the University of St Andrews in Scotland. It's home to a huge collection of over 115,000 amazing objects! These include old historical items, beautiful artworks, and cool scientific tools.
You can explore four main areas, called galleries, that tell the exciting story of the university. The museum has been updated with new spaces for special shows and a 'Learning Loft' for fun workshops. There's even a viewing terrace with awesome views of St Andrews Bay!
Contents
Discover the University's Story
The museum's four main galleries help you discover the history of the University of St Andrews. This story goes all the way back to when the university started in 1410. Each gallery focuses on a different part of its long journey.
University's Early Days
One gallery, called 'Scotland's First University', takes you back in time. It shows how the university was founded and what it was like in its very early years. You can learn about the first students and teachers.
Student Life at St Andrews
The 'Living and Learning' gallery explores what student life is like at St Andrews. You can see how students used to eat, what clubs they joined, and learn about the famous red gown they wear. It gives you a peek into their daily lives.
Big Ideas and Discoveries
'Seeing and Believing' is a gallery about important ideas from students and staff. It covers big discoveries in science, religion, and art. You'll learn about famous people like the astronomer James Gregory (mathematician) and the mathematician John Napier.
Special Exhibitions
The fourth gallery is used for changing exhibitions. This means there's always something new to see! Past shows have included the history of medicine and artworks from World War II.
Amazing Collections and Highlights
The University of St Andrews has some very special collections. Three of these are so important that they are called "Recognised Collections of National Significance." This means they are important for all of Scotland, and even the world!
Nationally Important Collections
These three special collections are:
- The Heritage Collection: This includes many historical items.
- The Collection of Historic Scientific Instruments: Full of old and interesting science tools.
- The Chemistry Collection: Shows the history of chemistry at the university.
You can see some of the best items from these collections at the Wardlaw Museum.
Medieval Maces: Symbols of Power
One of the museum's most exciting features is its three medieval ceremonial maces. These are like fancy staffs that date back to the 1400s. They are still used today in graduation ceremonies!
The oldest mace was made in 1416, probably in Paris. It has pictures of saints and family symbols carved into its head. Another mace, made in 1461, is thought to be one of the most beautiful pieces of medieval silver ever made. It shows Christ in a detailed shrine. The third mace was likely made in Scotland and is very rare.
Other Cool Objects
The museum has many other fascinating items:
- The Great Astrolabe: Made in 1575, this is believed to be the biggest old astrolabe in the world. It was used to tell the time and track stars.
- Silver Arrow Medals: A collection of 70 medals given to winners of a student competition between 1612 and 1754. Many winners became important people in Scottish politics.
- The Black Stone: Students sat on this stone from the 1400s to take their oral exams. Imagine taking a test on that!
- A special stained glass window dedicated to Thomas Chalmers.
- An early Reflecting Telescope made in 1734 by James Short (mathematician).
- A mazer, which is a type of drinking bowl. This one is the oldest known piece of silver from Edinburgh with a full hallmark.
Rare Papal Bull
Sometimes, the museum displays a very rare document called a Papal bull. This is one of the original six documents sent by Pope Benedict XIII in 1413 to officially start the University of St Andrews. Because it's so old and fragile, you usually see a copy instead of the real one.
Fun Events and Activities
The Wardlaw Museum offers lots of activities for everyone. They have talks, workshops, and tours about their collections. There are about 200 events each year!
School Programs
The museum also has a great program just for schools. A big part of this is the MUSA Young Artist Award. This art competition has been held every year since 2007.
Schools in Fife can join workshops to help students improve their art skills. Then, they can submit their artwork to the competition. In 2016, over a thousand entries were received! Winning artworks are shown in an exhibition in St Andrews.
Youth Curator Program
If you're a teenager, you might be interested in the Youth Curator program. This program lets young people go behind the scenes at the museum. They get to learn how museums work and even help put on an exhibition!
Who Helps Fund the Museum?
The museum gets money from different places to keep running. The main support comes from the University of St Andrews itself. They also get help from the Scottish Funding Council.
When the museum first opened, it received money from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Museums Galleries Scotland. Many other groups and people have also donated money. The museum often gets grants for special projects too.
Famous Visitors
Many well-known people have visited the Wardlaw Museum:
- In 2011, Prince William and Catherine Middleton visited. They were celebrating the university's 600th anniversary. They looked at the rare papal bull and had a special tour. Both Prince William and Catherine studied at the university.
- Crime writer Ian Rankin officially opened the museum in 2008.
- The museum has been featured on TV shows like BBC2's "Celebrity Antiques Roadtrip."
- Actress Joanna Lumley narrates the museum's audio guide, even though she hasn't visited in person.
Other University Museums
The Wardlaw Museum is part of the University of St Andrews' Museum Collections Unit. This unit also looks after three other public places at the university. They often share exhibitions and events with the Wardlaw Museum.
Bell Pettigrew Museum of Natural History
This is the university's oldest museum. It's full of natural history and animal specimens, many from the Victorian period. The collections are displayed in their original old cases, just as they were when the museum first opened.
MUSA Collections Centre
Located in the center of St Andrews, this is one of the university's storage places for its collections. You can take tours to see items that aren't usually on display. It's a great way to see what goes on behind the scenes!
