The University of Wales is founded in Bangor as the "University College of North Wales" (UCNW) on October 18, 1884, with an inaugural address by the Earl of Powis, the College's first President, in Penrhyn Hall.

There is then a procession to the college with three thousand quarryman (quarrymen from Penrhyn Quarry and other quarries had subscribed over twelve hundred pounds to the university).

The result of a campaign for better higher education provision in Wales, and following some rivalry between North Wales towns as to which was to be the base of the new college, it will be incorporated by charter the following year.