Old College

Old College stands on the seafront in Aberystwyth, a Grade I listed building that once housed the university’s main campus. The site began as Castle House, a villa designed in 1795 by John Nash for Uvedale Price. In the 1860s it became the Castle Hotel under John Pollard Seddon’s reconstruction, but financial troubles forced its sale to the university. A fire in 1885 destroyed much of the building, leading to further work by Seddon and the addition of mosaics by Charles Voysey. For most of the 20th century it served as an academic and administrative centre until teaching moved to the Penglais campus. The college’s history reflects ambition, controversy and adaptation. Seddon’s grand plans included mosaics that sparked outrage among staff, one calling them a “blot on the picture.” The university dismissed Seddon before work finished, and later architects completed the project. By 2014 all teaching had left, freeing the site for a major redevelopment funded partly by a £19 million Heritage Lottery grant. Plans aim to turn it into a heritage and cultural centre by 2026, with total renovation costs reaching £53 million. Visitors today find a grand Victorian building with rich architectural detail. The mosaics by Voysey remain at the top of the tower, their religious themes softened after objections. The interiors reflect successive phases of rebuilding, from Nash’s villa to Seddon’s Gothic Revival style. The seafront location offers views across Cardigan Bay, linking the college’s past with the town’s present. Though still under restoration, the building already shows the scale of its Victorian ambition and the care taken to preserve it.