Williamson, the newest of the old halls, was first opened in 1973-4. Like Athlone and Cameron, its architecture can be described as 'brutalist', a style typical of the era and noticeably different from the chateau-like Founder's building and the attractive mansion style of Kingswood.
All three of the new halls exhibited hard square lines and were constructed from grey breezeblock. Some of this hardness was counteracted inside by the use of warmer coloured curtains and furniture.
Each Williamson room was the height of modernity with its own sink, and the fact that this was quite a novelty perhaps indicates that students were less demanding in those days, and maybe less worried about hygiene! These days en-suite bedrooms are far more prevalent.
Although having access to kitchen areas, Williamson residents also shared dining facilities in Athlone with other residents from the campus “new halls”. At the back of the building the view was of an open field, mainly used for dwyle flonking and football, what used to pass for a sports hall and the chemistry building.
Williamson was the first Hall designed for mixed accommodation and opened in 1973 housing 115 students. Whilst each room had its own washbasin there were shared bathrooms, showers and toilets on each floor together with a shared Kitchen.
Williamson was demolished in July 2006 but rather confusingly there is now a new (though larger) hall in the same spot that is also called Williamson.