is one of the
Constituent Colleges of the
University Of Oxford in
England . Within the University it is better known by its nickname, "'''Teddy Hall'''". It has a claim to being "the oldest academical society for the education of undergraduates in any university".Cowdrey (1988); p. 388, referencing A.B. Emden who in his 1927 (p. 236) work states: "...and St. Edmund Hall now survives as the last lineal descendent of the oldest form of academical society designed for the residence of scholars studying in the Oxford Schools."
Like the
University Of Oxford itself, the precise date of establishment of St Edmund Hall is unknown; it is usually estimated at 1226. The college is named after
St Edmund of
Abingdon, Oxfordshire , the first known Oxford
Master Of Arts and the first Oxford-educated
Archbishop Of Canterbury , who lived and taught on the college site.
St Edmund Hall began life as one of Oxford's ancient
Aularian House s, the mediaeval halls that laid the foundation of the University, preceding the creation of the first colleges. As the only surviving mediaeval hall, its members are known as "
Aularians ". St Edmund Hall took on the status of a college in 1957, though retaining the historical moniker of "Hall".
The college has a history of independent thought, which has brought it into regular conflict with both church and state. During the late
14th Century and early
15th Century , it was a bastion of the
Wyclif heresy, for which college principal
William Taylor was ultimately burnt at the stake, and principal
Peter Payne fled the country. In the
17th Century , it incurred the wrath of the crown for fostering
Nonjurors , men who remained loyal to the
Scottish House Of Stuart and who refused to take the oath to the
German House Of Hanover , whom they regarded as having usurped the
British Throne .
Like most academic institutions, Oxbridge colleges commonly have a colour scheme used for college scarves, ties, sports clothing and so on. There is a great deal of confusion regarding the Hall's official college colours which seems to have arisen due to a discrepancy between "official college wear" and sporting wear.
The college's official colours are "maroon and gold"; while this not stated explicitly anywhere on the college's official web-site, the "
College memorabilia " section quotes these as the colours of official college merchandise, such as the
College Scarves .
In the vast majority of sporting wear produced the "maroon and gold" are often substituted by dark red and yellow perhaps due to these colours being easier/cheaper to produce.
.]]
The College Coat of Arms depicts a red cross fleury against a yellow/gold field surrounded by four
Cornish Choughs and is blazoned "''Or, a cross fleury gules between four Cornish choughs perched proper''".
In the image shown to the left, the College coat of arms is found above the following Latin dedication "''sanctus edmundus huius aulae lux''" which can be loosely translated as "''St. Edmund, light of this Hall''".
It is a very common practice within the University to use
Chronograms for dedications - when transcribed into Latin, they are written in such a way that an important date, usually that of a foundation or the dedication itself, is embedded in the text. This is usually achieved by choosing certain letters in the text which correspond to
Roman Numerals which when added, often disregarding the usual
Subtractive Notation , amount to the required date. These numerals are then indicated by being rendered in a larger size than that of the surrounding letters.
In the above dedication, the text is rendered as
sanCtVs edMVndVs hVIVs aVLae LVX
and, in this case, adding the numerals naively gives:
:C + V + M + V + V + V + I + V + V + L + L + V + X = 1246
which is a popular, if conservative, estimate for the establishment of the Hall.
St Edmund Hall is based on a small central site on the north side of the
High Street . The front quadrangle (see picture) is bordered by the
Porters' Lodge , the old dining hall (1659), the college bar and buttery (containing a mid-15th-century fireplace), the chapel with the old library above (late 17th century), and accommodation for students and fellows. In the centre of the quadrangle is a medieval well. Passages from the quadrangle give access to the college library (the deconsecrated church of St Peter in the East, 12th century) and gardens (St Peter's churchyard) to the north, and modern accommodation blocks and dining hall to the east. The college also owns annexes at
Norham Gardens , on
Dawson Street , and on
Iffley Road .
The student body has long been known for prowess in
Sport , especially
Rugby . More recently, it has also demonstrated strengths in
Journalism ,
Drama ,
Mathematics and
Student Politics . In 2007 the college fielded a team in
University Challenge .
''Work in progress''
The usual college grace given before
Formal Hall is ''Benedictus, Benedicat per Jesum Christum Dominum Nostrum'' (Blessed is He and Blessed is this (food) through Jesus Christ Our Lord) to which the assembly responds ''Amen''. More extended forms of the grace are sometimes given but this is very rare.
''Work in Progress''
- Dan Abnett , author, comic book writer
- Samira Ahmed , newsreader/presenter
- Stuart Barnes , former England and British Lions rugby player, commentator for Sky Sports
- Anna Botting , newsreader
- Douglas Botting , explorer and author
- Emma Brockes , journalist
- Robin Day , broadcaster
- Labour MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme (2001-present)
- Patrick Garland , (also Honorary Fellow )
- Mark Field MP (represents the City Of Westminster )
- Timothy Gorringe
- Thomas Hearne
- Oronhyatekha
- Terry Jones , comedian and writer
- Gabriel Josipovici
- Emma Kennedy , comedian and writer
- Stewart Lee , comedian and writer
- Sir Ken Macdonald , the Director of Public Prosecutions
- Hugo MacNeill , former Ireland and British Lions rugby player
- John McManners
- Derek Morris
- Al Murray comedian
- Richard Onslow, 1st Baron Onslow
- Sir Nicholas Pumfrey (Mr Justice Pumfrey), High Court Judge
- General Sir (Hugh) Michael Rose , KCB , CBE
- M. J. K. Smith
- John Wells , comedian and translator
- Cowdrey, H.E.J. (1988) ''St Edmund Hall, Queen's Lane'', In: Hibbert, C. (Ed.) ''The encyclopædia of Oxford'', London : Macmillan, p. 388-391, ISBN 0-333-39917-X. [http://www.seh.ox.ac.uk/index.php?section=26 Reproduced online by St Edmund Hall] [accessed 1 June 2007]
- Emden, A.B. (1927) ''An Oxford Hall in Medieval Times: being the Early History of St. Edmund Hall'', Oxford : Clarendon Press , Reprinted 1968
- Kelly, J.N.D. (1989) ''St. Edmund Hall: Almost Seven Hundred Years'', Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-951559-X
