University House
The role of ‘Principal of the University’ (as against the principals of the two colleges) was created in 1890. The first holder was James Donaldson (1831-1915), who had been Principal of the United College since 1886. He and his wife lived in a (?rented?) house known as ‘Scores Park’, which had been built during the development of The Scores in the 1860s.
In 1891, when the Australian/New Zealand businessman John Hay visited St Andrews to discuss the Berry bequest, he became friendly with the Donaldsons, and soon after, mooted the possibility of helping the University to acquire their house to become the official residence of the Principal of the University. In 1896, Hay gave £5,000 to the University to help it to purchase the house. No 9, The Scores is now known as ‘University House’.