Swansea University Art Collection

The Foundation Stone Ceremony, 19 July 1920 by Percy Gleaves

On the afternoon of Monday 19 July 1920, King George V and his wife Queen Mary arrived at Singleton Park to lay the foundation stone of the University College of Swansea. A grand ceremony was held to mark the occasion, with many notable figures from the University movement, as well as the great and the good of the town and the region, gathering in the park to witness this moment. The scene is depicted in a large painting by Percy Gleaves, the restored version of which is on display in Singleton Abbey.

In July 1920, there was still some uncertainty as to where and how the new College would operate in the coming autumn and the stone did not stay where the King had put it. It only found a permanent home when it was built into the wall of the 1937 Library – the first purpose-built and permanent university building on the Singleton site.