St David's College was founded by Bishop Thomas Burgess in 1822, and admitted its first students on March 1st 1827. It has the distinction of being the oldest university institution in England and Wales after Oxford and Cambridge. In 1971 the College became a full member of the University of Wales, and was thereafter known as St. David's University College. This title of the institution was again changed in 1996 when it was re-named the University of Wales, Lampeter, (in order that it should be in line with the other constituent institutions of the University of Wales). The campus has developed greatly since the College first opened. The original Old Building was designed by C.R. Cockerell, who also designed Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, and was co-architect of the Fitzwilliam Museum, also in Cambridge. It was a self-contained building, housing the Chapel, original library, dining-hall, lecture-rooms and residential accommodation, all arranged around a central quadrangle. It was joined in 1897 by the original Canterbury Building, which had to be demolished in 1971 for structural reasons - the new Canterbury Building was opened in 1973. A spate of building work in the 1960s and 1970s transformed the look of the campus. The new library building was opened by Prince Philip in 1967. Harford halls of residences were built in this era, as was Lloyd Thomas Hall, with new refectory attached. The Arts Building appeared in 1971. Later additions to campus include the Media Centre, Students Union building, additional Halls of Residence and the Cliff Tucker Theatre.
From the guide to the St David's College, Lampeter: Photographic collection, 1880s - [ongoing], (University of Wales, Trinity St David)
