North London in Middlesex County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

First UWO Campus

Photographed by Tim Boyd, March 30, 2026

1. First UWO Campus Marker

Inscription. From 1878 to 1895, site of the first campus of The Western University of London, Ontario renamed The University of Western Ontario in (1923) on the blocks bounded by Wellington, Grosvenor, Waterloo and Oxford Streets. Bricks and lumber from Dufferin College (former Hellmuth Boys' College), Western's first building, were used to construct the rear portion of the Church Hall.

Erected 2003 by London Public Library Board/University of Western Ontario.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1878.

Location. 42° 59.917′ N, 81° 15.123′ W. Marker is in London, Ontario, in Middlesex County. It is in North London. It is at the intersection of Wellington Street and Saint James Street, on the right when traveling north on Wellington Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 280 St James Street, London ON N6A N6A, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Southwest Ontario Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Church of St. John the Evangelist (here, next to this marker); Doige Park (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Site of Second UWO Campus (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Toddle Inn (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); The 1st Hussars (approx. 0.9 kilometers

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away); "Holy Roller" (approx. 0.9 kilometers away); 50th Anniversary of the Allied Invasion of Normandy (approx. 0.9 kilometers away); The British Garrison in London (approx. one kilometer away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in London.

Also see . . . University of Western Ontario (Wikipedia). <blockquote>The university was founded on March, 7 1878 by Bishop Isaac Hellmuth of the Anglican Diocese of Huron as The Western University of London, Ontario, and its first chancellor was Chief Justice Richard Martin Meredith. It incorporated Huron College, which had been founded in 1863. The first four faculties were Arts, Divinity, Law and Medicine (London Medical College). There were originally only 15 students when classes began in 1881.

Although the university was incorporated in 1878, it was not until June 20, 1881 that it received the right to confer degrees in arts, divinity and medicine. In 1882, the name of the university was revised to The Western University and College of London, Ontario. (Submitted on April 6, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Photographed by Tim Boyd, March 30, 2026

2. First UWO Campus Marker

The middle of the three plaques on the left of the red door

Former Hellmuth Boys College building, 1875 image. Click for full size.

3. Former Hellmuth Boys College building, 1875

London Public Library (public domain)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 6, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 6, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.