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|HALLS for the accommodation of students existed in Oxford before
Colleges were founded, and a few were established subsequently; of these
St. Edmund Hall is the only one which retains its independence. The
quaintness and irregular beauty of its buildings may plead with stern
reformers for its continued survival.
Opposite to the side entrance of Queen's, St. Edmund Hall is in another
respect under the wing of that College; for Queen's has the right of
nominating its Principal.
The origin of St. Edmund Hall is uncertain, but it is commonly supposed
to derive its name from Edmund Rich, Archbishop of Canterbury from
1234 to 1240. Its buildings, grouped round three sides of an oblong
quadrangle, date from the middle of the seventeenth century.
The first view shews the entrance to the Hall, with the interesting old
Church of St. Peter-in-the-East in the background. The crypt and chancel
of this Church take us back to the times of the Conqueror, and may have
been the work of Robert D'Oily, one of William's Norman followers, who
is known to have built Oxford Castle.
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In the view of the interior of the Quadrangle the building at the back
is the Library; the abundance of creepers on the left hand adds to the
idea of comfort suggested by the homeliness of the architecture.
The third illustration shews the Hall as seen from St. Peter's
Churchyard. The vicinity of the monuments may serve to remind members of
the Hall of their mortality.
Hearne, the antiquary, was a member of St. Edmund Hall; so also was Sir
Richard Blackmore, who was in residence for thirteen years. It was his
lot, says Johnson, "to be much oftener mentioned by enemies than by
friends"; but this is hardly surprising, in view of the interminable
epics which he inflicted upon his contemporaries.