Younger Hall

Located on the north side of North Street in St. Andrews, Younger Hall was built 1923-29 to the designs of English architect Paul Waterhouse as the graduation hall for the University. It now also provides the town's principal concert venue, with seating for an audience of up to 1000, and is B-listed. A building very much of its time, it combines aspects of Neo-Classical and Art Deco styles, to present a monumental facade with a substantial three-storey building behind. It was built at a cost of £90,000 and was opened by Elizabeth, the Duchess of York, later Queen Elizabeth (1900 - 2002). The hall was the gift of Dr James and Mrs Annie Younger, of the noted brewing family, who lived nearby at Mount Melville.

The Classical temple centrepiece of the facade is set back behind a distinctive single-storey porch featuring three entrances, each with two-leaf timber doors. Above the porch are a line of swagged urns by Alexander Carrick (1882 - 1966) and commemorative panels record 'JC Irvine Principal', 'Haig FM Chancellor' and 'F Nansen Rector' and the date '4 Nov 1926'. Inside the foyer features grey and green marble, leading to staircases with decorative ironwork. The principal hall has two levels of balcony and a wood-panelled stage. This is home to a two-manual organ built by Harrison & Harrison of Durham. The hall was designed with space for an organ behind the stage, but it was only in 1990 that an instrument was finally installed. Originally built in 1976 for Selwyn College, Cambridge, the organ was moved to St. Andrews, complete with its 1935 oak case, by A.F. Edmonstone of Forteviot.

The Music Centre of the University of St Andrews is based here, making use of eleven practice, teaching and rehearsal rooms, and a Music Technology Studio, all located within the hall.


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