St Salvator’s College

Established in 1450 by Bishop Kennedy, this is now a university residential hall. The tower, to which the present spire was added in 1550, contains the original bells—Katharine and Kate Kennedy. The butts date from the 1860s. The entrance archway originally formed part of the old cloister court. In the vestry is a 1461 college mace. In 1747, St Salvator’s College became the seat of the United College.

St Salvator’s Quad contains lecture and exam halls, and was for many years the scene of the annual Raisin Weekend mass shaving foam fight every October. This commemorates the tradition of giving raisins to academic parents or mentors who look after freshers, first year students or “beasants” (fledglings). Now, their services are rewarded usually by alcohol! Outside the Quad are the letters PH in the cobble marking the site where the Protestant martyr Patrick Hamilton was burned at the stake in 1528, and it is considered bad luck to walk on the letters. Students who walk across these letters will fail their degree but can remove the 'curse' by bathing in the sea at dawn on 1st May (The May Dip).
St Salvator's Quad, North Street (behind St Salvator's Chapel)