University College of North Wales, now known as the University of Wales Bangor

The University of Wales Bangor came into being as a direct result of a campaign in the late nineteenth century for better higher education provision in Wales. An important feature of the fundraising campaign to establish a college of university rank in Bangor was the voluntary contributions made by local quarrymen from their weekly wages over a period of years. It opened on 18 October 1884 in an old coaching inn with 58 students and 10 members of staff. In 1893 it became one of the three constituent colleges of the University of Wales.

The University moved to a new site in 1911 - the present main university buildings - on a hillside overlooking Bangor. Major growth occurred in the late 1950's and early 1960's, when the number of students increased to over 2,000. Expansion continued throughout the 1980's and 1990's with a major development being the introduction of nurse / midwifery training in the 1980's. Integration between the University and Coleg Normal, specialising in training teachers, occurred in 1996.

The complete story of the beginnings of the University College of North Wales has been written by J. Gwynn Williams. It was published in 1985 under the title The University College of North Wales : Foundations 1884-1927 .