Aberystwyth University marked its 151st anniversary today (Friday 15 October) with a Founders’ Day procession from Bandstand to kick the bar at the north end of the Promenade. The annual event commemorates the day when 26 students were welcomed to the Old College, a converted hotel, by Principal Thomas Charles Edwards in October 1872.
In keeping with tradition, the procession was led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Elizabeth Treasure, and featured student representatives, members of staff and members from the local community. With the Old College closed for renovation, this year’s Founders’ Day reception was held in the Medrus conference facilities on the Penglais campus. Despite not being able to celebrate this year’s event in the Old College, the project to transform this iconic and much loved building into a vibrant centre for learning, culture and enterprise and a major catalyst for the development of Aberystwyth is making strong progress.
The Old College was originally developed as a hotel by railway contractor Thomas Savin. Following its aquisition as an unfinished project in 1867, it was adapted as the home of the University in time for its opening in October 1872. To learn more about the history of Aberystwyth University visit History of Aberystwyth University (https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/about-us/history/).
