Showcasing some items from the St Andrews Preservation Trust museum (Part 1):
St Andrews Preservation Trust, Tortoiseshell Comb, 19th Century:
The preservation trust has an a amazing collection of items from St Andrews, Fife and the wider world!
The Museum:
St Andrews Heritage Museum and Garden at 12 North Street is set in a charming 17th century house and garden, a stone’s throw from St Andrews Cathedral and St Andrews Castle. Our Museum and Garden is located in the oldest settlement of St Andrews and is one of the earliest domestic dwellings in the area.
Focusing on the story of the Town and its people from circa 1800, our Museum and Garden is unique. Our displays showcase social, working and domestic life in St Andrews through fascinating objects that have been gifted by the public and Trust members for over 60 years. Our Garden is a hidden gem and, as well as a sensory garden and a variety of plants, visitors can enjoy exhibitions and installations throughout.
Exploring our Museum and Garden is free during normal opening hours. Our dedicated and enthusiastic museum guides look forward to meeting you and sharing the rich heritage of St Andrews and its people.
The chosen item today:
Tortoiseshell began to arrive in Britain in the mid-17th century when the English took control of Jamaica. British sugar plantation owners and slave traders often commissioned luxury objects, as they reflected their wealth and status. Items made from tortoiseshell were particularly prized owing to its translucency and colour, and for being versatile in making a variety of items, such as furniture and jewellery.
Over 200 years of the hunting of hawksbill turtles has driven the turtles to the brink of extinction. In 1977, international trade of the hawksbill turtle became illegal under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The hawksbill turtle is still a critically endangered species today.
