St David's College, Lampeter; later St David's University College; later University...

THE STRUCTURE OF THIS CATALOGUE IS UNDER REVIEW (2025) The archive contains papers created by various officers of, and departments within the college/university, along with associations directly related to the university. These include papers of the Court; Council; Senate; past governing bodies; principals; the administration division; information services; academic schools; the college chapel; the Lampeter Society; various student societies; St. David's College School; various university and university related publications; photographs and works of art; papers relating to individual members of staff and students; papers concerning the founding of the college; the papers of Gownsman Publications Ltd. It alco contains non-university documents relating to Lampeter and its nearby counties; documents concerning education in Wales; the Church in Wales and other educational institutes.

The structure of this catalogue is under review (2025)

Access to certain series of confidential records may be restricted

St David's College was founded by Bishop Thomas Burgess, and admitted its first students, after almost 25 years of preparation, on St David's Day 1827. It is the oldest degree awarding institution in Wales, with only the ancient universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Scotland predating it throughout Britain. The College received its charter in 1828, and until the mid-twentieth century remained an independent college, awarding degrees in a range of subjects, but remaining closely linked to the church. Thomas Burgess was appointed Bishop of St David's in 1803, and he immediately recognised the need for the establishment of a college in the diocese for the training of men for entry into the ministry, especially those who could not afford to attend university. This need was highlighted by the fact that there weren't enough Welsh graduates, let alone Welsh-speaking graduates, to supply the needs of the four Welsh dioceses. Burgess promoted various schemes for the achievement of his aim, suggesting that clergy within the diocese should collect subscriptions from the public, and donate one tenth of their yearly income to the college fund. Originally Burgess intended to build his new college in Llandewi-Brefi, a town roughly 8 miles from Lampeter, similar in size during this period, and of great religious significance within Wales. A site was found, but the work was delayed until further funds were collected, and the college was granted a charter. It was during this period of delay that Bishop Burgess met John Scandrett Harford, a philanthropist and landowner with strong links to Lampeter. Harford recognised the benefits that a college could bring to his locality, and offered Burgess the Castle Fields, a site he owned within the town of Lampeter. Burgess gladly accepted the offer. Plans were drawn up by the architect Charles Robert Cockerell, and the foundation stone was laid on the 12th of August 1822.