Bangor University 1884-2009

David Roberts

Description

This book relates to one of Wales's most important institutions of higher education, covering its history from its creation in 1884 as the University College of North Wales, its incarnation as the University of Wales, Bangor and to its 125th anniversary in 2009. The book traces the institution's origins as an 18th century coaching inn with just 58 students to its current status as an institution enjoying multi-million pound investment in staff and buildings in the twenty-first century. The story is one of heroic struggle, personal endeavour, financial crises, political unrest, academic distinction and student devotion. This account traces the growth and development of the institution, focusing on the personalities who shaped its direction and the changing nature of student life on the campus. The underlying theme of the book is academic progress, placed within the context of Welsh political, social and economic development during the last century, and also covers the first few years of the twenty-first.

Sujets

• Histoire
• 20th century
• Great Britain
• North Wales
• History
• Europe

Informations

• Publié par: University of Wales Press
• Date de parution: 01 septembre 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780708322802
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 9 Mo

Extrait

BANGOR UNIVERSITY, 1884–2009

Bangor University 1884–2009

DAVID ROBERTS

university of wales press cardiff 2009

© David Roberts, 2009

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any material form (including photocopying or storing it in any medium by electronic means and whether or not transiently or incidentally to some other use of this publication) without the written permission of the copyright owner except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Applications for the copyright owner’s written permission to reproduce any part of this publication should be addressed to the University of Wales Press, 10 Columbus Walk, Brigantine Place, Cardiff, CF10 4UP.

www.uwp.co.uk

British Library CIP Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978-0-7083-2226-0 e-ISBN 978-0-7083-2280-2

The rights of David Roberts to be identified as author of this work have been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77, 78 and 79 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Printed by CPI Antony Rowe, Chippenham, Wiltshire

To the students and staff – past, present and future – of Bangor University

List of illustrations Abbreviations Foreword Preface

Contents

1 ‘North Wales and his wife will be there’: The Beginning, 1884–1892

2 ‘Little Balliol’: Growth and Development, 1893–1927

3 ‘The strange and beautiful hillside college at Bangor’: Recession and War, 1928–1945

4 ‘The whole place had a sort of family feeling’: Reconstruction, 1945–1957

5 ‘Universities have a duty to try to find places for all those who wish to enter’: The Challenges of Expansion, 1958–1976

6 ‘We are drifting into very perilous waters’: Confrontation and Crisis, 1976–1984

7 ‘I am sure that a radical approach is right’: Responding to Change, 1984–2009

Notes Index

ix xiii xv xvii

1

23

35

57

69

91

105

131 141

List of Illustrations

1 Foundation Day – 18 October 1884 – at the Penrhyn Arms. 2 The first Senate, with Reichel in the centre (seated). 3 Sir Harry Reichel, Principal, 1884–1927. 4 W. Cadwaldr Davies, the first Registrar. 5 Earl of Powis, the first President. 6 William Rathbone, President, 1892–1900. 7 A student production of ‘Twelfth Night’ on St. David’s Day, 1903. 8 Certain goings-on attract light-hearted banter in the press. 9 King Edward VII lays the foundation stone for the Main Building in July 1907. 10 The bilingual foundation stone – in Welsh and Latin. 11 The opening of the Main Building, 1911. Lord Kenyon opens proceedings, with King George V seated on the stage. 12 John Morris-Jones (left) and David Lloyd George outside Prichard- Jones Hall after the opening of the Main Building. 13 Kate Roberts, the distinguished Welsh writer, graduated in 1912. 14 The College’s Officer Training Corps, being inspected by the Principal in 1912. 15 A Physics Laboratory. 16 The College rugby team in 1925/26. 17 Sir John Edward Lloyd, simultaneously Professor of History, Registrar and Honorary Librarian. 18 Sir Emrys Evans, Principal, 1927–1958. 19 F. W. Rogers Brambell on the marine zoology Easter course, 1933. Dates of terms were set in accordance with information on the tides – ‘Brambell’s tides’ as they were known. 20 Sir Ifor Williams, Professor of Welsh and ‘doyen of Celtic scholars’. 21 Wynn Wheldon, Registrar, 1920–33.