<p>Nottingham's first civic college was opened in the city centre in 1881, four years after the foundation stone was laid by former Prime Minister, W E Gladstone. After the First World War, the college outgrew its original building and in 1928 the College moved to what is now the main campus, University Park. Even in its early days on this site, the College attracted high profile visiting lecturers including Professor Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi and H G Wells. In 1948, the college was awarded the Royal Charter and became The University of Nottingham, now able to award degrees in its own name.</p>