 It was also the scene for large banquets, such as that to celebrate the opening of the Clifton Suspension Bridge in 1864, and the celebrations, in 1897, of the four hundredth anniversary of John Cabot's discovery of North America.On 11 June 1874 the Victoria Rooms hosted a meeting to promote what was described as a College of Science and Literature for the West of England and South Wales, which became University College, Bristol, an educational institution which existed from 1876 to 1909.It was the predecessor institution to the University of Bristol, which gained a Royal Charter in 1909.