Ancient and Royal
The
presence of the church created the conditions for all else to flourish, including the transformation of St Andrews
into a market town. When it became a royal burgh in 1620, it had been a trading centre for centuries already. The
layout of the town centre remains much as it was in medieval times, when the streets were filled by market stalls and
the air rang with traders' cries. The town traded widely, principally with the Low Countries. At its peak, the harbour
may have berthed as many as 300 ships.
Walls and Gateways
The town's prosperity during the middle ages is evidenced by the town walls and fortifications. Three of the gateways
have survived: the Mill Port or Sea Yett (Gate), through which early traders would have passed from the harbour into
the former Augustinian priory; The Pends, a 14th century vaulted gatehouse that was the main entrance to the priory;
and the West Port, the only fortified gateway surviving in Scotland.
