ABERYSTWYTH University has celebrated its past, present and future by re-establishing Founders’ Day.

Bringing together representatives from the university and local community, the celebrations reflected the ethos behind the original celebrations held in the Old College on 15 October 1872.

Founders’ Day marks how the university has been making history since the 1850s, when a small group of patriots, led by Hugh Owen, a London Welshman, raised enough money by public and private subscription to establish a college of university status in Wales.

Originally built as a hotel by railway contractor Thomas Savin, the Old College was purchased by the Welsh University committee for £10,000 in 1867, a fraction of the amount it had cost to build. The first students arrived in October 1872.

Prof April McMahon, vice-chancellor, said: “The establishment of Aberystwyth University is one of the great romantic, indeed heroic, stories of modern Welsh history. As the birthplace of university scholarship in Wales, we are immensely proud of our heritage.

“Today, we have grown from strong local foundations to become an institution with global reach. Aberystwyth University is a place not only rich in academic opportunity, but deeply rooted in the community."