Curated to celebrate the University’s 60th anniversary in 2025, this exhibition showcases the early growth and development of the University of Warwick during the 1960s and 1970s.
The establishment of The University of Warwick was given approval by the government in 1961 and received its Royal Charter of Incorporation in 1965.
The main campus of the University is situated on land granted by Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council in the early 1960s. The first buildings were completed in 1965 (and now house Biological Sciences); by 1970 the Library, Science and Arts Buildings and Rootes Residences had been built on central campus.
During the 1970s, further academic and residential accommodation was built on campus, including the Social Sciences building in 1977, Senate House and the Arts Centre (1974) and the Students' Union Building (1975).
Explore the tabs below to discover different photographs from the collection, or click on an image to scroll through the collection.
Also available to view in-person at the Library Entrance until 7th July 2025
Aerial View of Campus, 1970s
Aerial view showing both Gibbet Hill Campus and Main Campus during the 1970s.
Photograph: UWA/Photos/I.A.1/12
Photographer: Aerofilms Ltd.
Early Construction, 1964
Photograph: UWA/23/3519/Box2
Early Construction, 1964
Photograph: UWA/23/3519/Box2
Early Construction, 1960s
Black and white photograph showing the construction of University buildings - possibly the Science Block.
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.1/1/63
Early Construction, 1960s
Construction work underway on Library Road, the Science Block and the Library.
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.1/1/67
Building work underway at the back of the Library extension on main campus.
The photograph shows the bridge, which would eventually connect the extension to the original building, being manoeuvred into place.
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/118
Maths Houses Accommodation, 1970s Side view of the exteriors of two of the Maths Houses at Gibbet Hill.
Photograph:UWA/Photos/II.B.1/1/43
Photographer: Thomas-Photos, Oxford
Maths Houses Accommodation, 1970s
Maths Houses study at Gibbet Hill with 40 feet of blackboard (unbroken but for the door) around the wall.
Photograph:UWA/Photos/II.B.1/1/49
Photographer: Thomas-Photos, Oxford
Rootes Building and Courtyard, 1970s
Looking down at Rootes Courtyard, known as “Red Square” due to the placement of the red sculpture 3B Series 1 by artist Bernard Schottlander
Photograph:UWA/Photos/II.D.1/1/36
Photographer: Dales and Fleckner
“Red Square”, 1970s
Students pose on the sculpture 3B Series 1 by artist Bernard Schottlander. The Rootes Social Building is in the background.
Photograph:UWA/Photos/II.D.1/1/42
Photographer: Dales and Fleckner
Rootes Building 1960s
Exterior view of the newly constructed Rootes Building.
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.D.1/1/51
Photographer: Thomas-Photos, Oxford
Rootes Building, 1970s
Students congregate outside Rootes Building accommodation.
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.D.1/1/62
Benefactors Hall, 1960s
Benefactors hall was built from donations by an anonymous benefactor and designed to accommodate American students on exchange. It was opened by the American Ambassador in 1967.
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.D.2/1/7
Photographer: Thomas-Photos, Oxford
Whitefields Accommodation, 1970s
External view of Whitefields Accommodation with Rootes Building in the background.
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.D.3/1/3
Whitefields Accommodation, 1970s
Students socialise outside Whitefields Accommodation.
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.D.3/1/13
Hurst Flats at Cryfield Village, 1970s
External view of Hurst Flats
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.D.4/1/1
Tocil Accommodation, 1970s
External view of Tocil accommodation, built on the site of Tocil House Farm.
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.D.5/1/5
Rootes Hall, 1970s
External view of Rootes Building during the summer
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.D.1/1/RefC2029/1
Main Campus and Surrounding Area, 1960s/1970s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/I.A.1/20
Photographer: Aerofilms Ltd.
Newly completed Engineering building taken at the point where Library Road meets University Road, 1960s/70s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.1/1/44
Photographer: Thomas-Photos, Oxford
External Image of the Students’ Union, 1970s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.D.10/1/5
Aerial View of Main Site, 1960s
The second set of Rootes Building accommodation is being constructed. East Site can be seen in the top right corner of the image.
Photograph: UWA/Photos/I.B.1/1
Aerial View of Main Site, 1960s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/I.C.1/9
Science Block and Library Road taken during the early years of the University, 1960s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.1/1/7
Photographer: Thomas-Photos, Oxford
Exterior of the Social Studies Building, 1970s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.3/1/16
Interior Lecture Hall in the Social Studies Building, 1970s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.3/1/20
New Library building on main campus with farmland, haybales and trees in the foreground, 1960s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/102
Exterior of Senate House, 1970s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.C.1/1/3
Exterior of the Warwick Arts Centre, showing the main entrance, 1977
Liliane Lijn's 'White Koan' and a car in the foreground.
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.C.2/1/11
Exterior of the Chaplaincy, 1970s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.C.3/1/1
Exterior of the Sports Pavilion, 1960s/1970s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.C.4.1/25
Group of students in the garden at the heart of the Arts Building (Humanities), 1970s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.2/1/33
External Image of Rootes Building, with ‘Red Square’ in the foreground, 1960s/1970s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.D.1/1/7
Image of Library Construction on Main Site, published in the Students’ Handbook, 1967
Photograph: UWA/PUB/S/HB/2/8
Full Site Map of Main Site and East Site, from the Union Handbook, 1968-1969
Photograph: UWA/PUB/S/HB/3/37a
Map plan of first University site at Gibbet Hill, 1960s
This map was provided to students who joined the University in 1965. It shows the buildings and building names on what was then called the East Site but which we now know as Gibbet Hill.
Document reference: UWA/F/M/2/1
East Site, 1970s
Aerial view of East Campus, now known as Gibbet Hill. A small section of main campus can be seen to the top right.
Photograph: UWA/Photos/I.B.1/4
Students standing outside of the Mathematics Institute Building East Site, Gibbet Hill, 1970s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.B.1/1/10
Photographer: Thomas-Photos, Oxford
Inside the Chemistry Laboratory on East Site
This is the earliest picture of Chemistry at the University of Warwick.
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.B.2/1/32
Photographer: Thomas-Photos, Oxford
East Site Lecture Hall, 1960s
Photograph: UWA/23/3519/Box2
East Site, 1960s
Possibly the Engineering Science Department
Photograph: UWA/23/3519/Box2
East Site Restaurant and Common Room, 1960s
Photograph: UWA/23/3519/Box2
Ground Floor of the Maths Institute
Students use the seating area of the Maths Institute on the East Site.
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.B.2/1/23
Photographer: Thomas-Photos, oxford
Library In Use at the East Site
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.B.2/1/26
Photographer: Thomas-Photos, Oxford
Biological Sciences, East Campus, 1970s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.B.4/1/1
Biological Sciences, East Campus, 1970s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.B.4/1/4
Biological Sciences, East Campus, 1970s
Showing the exterior garden and greenhouse
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.B.4/1/7
Outside the Refectory, 1970s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.B.2/1/6
Photographer: Thomas-Photos, Oxford
East Site - general view
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.B.2/1/11
Photographer: BL Systems Ltd. (AT&T ISTEL)
The pond, Biological Sciences and Maths Institute
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.B.2/1/15
Photographer: Thomas-Photos, Oxford
Student using a microfilm reader in the Library, 1979
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/57
Front of the Main Library building under construction, 1960s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/69
Photographer: Thomas-Photos, Oxford
Front of the Library building on main campus, 1960s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/87
Builders working on the bridge connecting Main Library building and Science Block, 1960s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/108
Crane in use in front of the Library building on Main Site, 1960s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/109
Photographer: Henk Snoek
Woman looking through the card catalogue cabinets in the Main Site's Library, 1967
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/23
Photographer: Henk Snoek
Newspaper Section in the Main Site's Library building, 1970s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/32
Newspaper section in the Main Site's Library building, 1979
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/34
Reception Desk in the Main Site's Library building, 1970s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/52
Students using record players in the Listening Room in Main Site's Library building, 1960s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/55
Student taking notes by shelving in the Main Site's Library building, 1960s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/12
Photographer: PW&L Thompson Limited
People cutting out articles from French newspapers in the European Documentation Centre, 1960s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/26
Back of the Main Library building and the Science Block under construction, June 1966
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/74
Photographer: Thomas-Photos, Oxford
Two storey front entrance to the Library building on main campus, 1960s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/92
Photographer: Henk Snoek
New Library building and Science Block with grassland in the foreground, 1960s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/104
Photographer: PW and L Thompson, Coventry
Library building under construction on Main Site, 1964/65
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/107
Photographer: Henk Snoek
Builders and a digger working on a trench outside the Library building on main campus, 1960s
Photograph: UWA/Photos/II.A.6/1/110
Photographer: Henk Snoek
Image of the newly built library on Main Site, from the Students’ Handbook, 1966
