History Hertford College, Oxford

1 history

1.1 hart hall
1.2 richard newton s hertford college
1.3 magdalen hall
1.4 20th , 21st centuries

history
hart hall

the college began life hart hall (aula cervina), small tenement built college s old hall today, few paces along new college lane on southern side. in mediaeval oxford, halls lodging houses students , resident tutors. land hart hall purchased elias de hertford. hertford college stands on land once owned walter grendon, mercer of oxford.

walter grendon, mercer (dealer of fine fabrics) owned tenement wound in hands of man built hart hall.

the original tenement, mentioned in deed of 1283, bought elias de hertford walter de grendon, mercer, lay between tenement of university (blackhall) on west, , tenement of prioress of studley on east. in deed elias de hertford sells john de dokelynton in 1301, last tenement called micheldhall. deed made on son, elias, in 1301. name of hall humorous reduction of name of founder s home town, , allowed use of symbol of hart used identification.

at time, new college lane known hammer hall lane (named after hall east, new college had not been founded), , northern side old town wall. corner of hammer hall lane , catte street (which had postern in wall called smithgate) taken black hall, place of john wycliffe s imprisonment vice-chancellor around 1378. on other side of hart hall along lane shield hall. on catte street entrance arthur hall, lay down narrow passage behind hart hall, , cat hall (aula murilegorum), stood further south, principal s lodgings stand.

the younger elias sold on hart hall (named in deed le herthalle ) after month wealthy local fishmonger john of ducklington, who, 7 years later, bought arthur hall , annexed hart hall. in 1312, john sold 2 halls walter de stapledon, bishop of exeter, desired found college. after on year, stapledon moved scholars larger site had purchased on turl street, became stapledon hall, later exeter college. however, exeter college retained rights on hart hall, plagued hall s development centuries.

in 1379, hart hall , black hall rented william of wykeham temporary home scholars new college, east along became new college lane, being built. first 2 wardens of new college appear principals of hart hall. until 17th century, there evidence of scholars (including thomas ken) matriculating @ hart hall while waiting vacancy @ new college. time, appears shield hall had been partly taken on hart hall , partly demolished make way new college s cloister. although black hall continued separate existence, principal same hart hall s. in 1490, hart hall described having library, unusual hall. in 1530, hart hall annexed black hall also. time, cat hall leased souls college, , exeter college, until subsumed growing hart hall in 16th century, giving hall of land around today old quadrangle.

in latter half of 16th century, hart hall became known refuge catholic recusants, particularly under philip randell principal (1548–1599). because of connection exeter college , college s increasing puritanism, number of exeter s tutors , scholars migrated hart hall. hall attracted increasing number of catholics further afield, including jesuit tutor richard holtby in 1574, instrumental in conversion of student, , later jesuit martyr , saint, alexander briant catholicism. coming catholic family, english poet john donne came hart hall in 1584.

the drinking hart motto above modern main gate of hertford college

hart hall expanded , new buildings put up. in 17th century, current senior common room built lodgings principal. period also, main entrance of hall moved being narrow passage off new college lane gate on catte street. late 17th century, cat hall described being used ball-court of hart hall . in latter part of 17th century, principal, dr william thornton, provided proper gate catte street entrance of hall, , decorated device of drinking hart motto sicut cervus anhelat ad fontes aquarum ( hart panteth after water brooks , taken psalm 42, verse 1, in peculiar translation). although current gatehouse not thornton s original, retains design , motto, , houses original decorated gates. has been suggested frieze latin motto real counterpart of 1 translated waiting crowd title character of thomas hardy s jude obscure.

in 1692, political satirist jonathan swift incorporated trinity college, dublin, on books of hart hall receive ma.

entrance hertford college


richard newton s hertford college

on 28 july 1710, revd dr richard newton admitted principal of hart hall. newton well-connected, energetic educational reformer. appointed principal peaceful retirement rector of sudborough, personal tutor 2 brothers, both destined prime minister — thomas pelham-holles , henry pelham — bringing younger him hart hall. dedicated himself raising hall debt , securing firmer financial endowment. newton planned redesign hall around proper quadrangle, tutor, or angler, , students living in each angle, , common buildings along sides. however, 2 buildings in design ever built: 1 angle in south-east corner of old quadrangle (nowadays known cottage), , simple stone chapel on south side (consecrated 25 november 1716), serves college s library. these buildings financed entirely newton s pocket, sum of around £2000 (around £274,000 adjusted inflation).

in 1720, newton published scheme of disciplines laying out scheme of education view obtaining charter of incorporation, and, on 18 may 1723, presented petition charter. proposal met immediate opposition, exeter college, exercising old rights, , souls, desiring expand northward onto hall s land. in addition, appointments of principals various halls had established in game of promotion, , few would-be principals opposed plan. john conybeare, fellow of exeter, , later bishop of bristol, newton s ardent opponent, penning book calumny refuted against newton s reforms. after years of struggle, richard newton s statues accepted on 3 november 1739, , charter incorporating principal , fellows of hertford college (principalis et socii collegii hertfordiensis) received on 8 september 1740.

newton s hertford relatively spartan college, having received no real endowment. meals simple , cheap, , principal insisted on eating same else. students expected work hard, and, newton found university s education lacking, supplemented disputations within college. newton allowed gentlemen-commoners matriculate @ college, paid double fees same accommodation , food others. allowed wear coloured gowns , tufted caps, newton made them wear ordinary black gown. thus, many well-to-do family sent sons hertford college instil in them disciplined education, unlike privileged wining , dining had gentlemen-commoners in other colleges.

after richard newton s death in 1753, principalship of college fell succession of men lacking desire or energy continue predecessor s plan. 1 exception succession david durell, built reputation , academic success of college. under durell, future statesman charles james fox matriculated in 1764 (hertford, unusually oxford, whig college). however, scheme of 4 tutors in respective angles reduced two, , cheaper junior fellows took on of burden of tutoring. @ hertford tutor benjamin blayney prepared 1769 standard edition of authorized king james version of bible. apart durell s principalship, college went decline due mismanagement of uninterested principals , lack of decent endowments. in may 1805, bernard hodgson, last principal of hertford college died, , no suitable successor found , agreed upon. 1810, matriculation had ceased, , last students awarded degrees. last tutor , vice-principal, richard hewitt, continued live in rooms without students until may 1816, when commission declared hertford college dissolved.

magdalen hall

north-west corner of old quad of hertford college, showing spiral staircase hall

the demise of hertford college welcomed magdalen college, had long been searching way of expelling namesake neighbour magdalen hall (/ˈmɔːdlɪn hɔːl/ mawd-lin hawl, aula magdalenae or magdalis). before demise of hertford, magdalen college conspired make site ready receive transplanted magdalen hall. did magdalen hall make use of badge of arms, but, when did, used same of college. current lodge of hertford college still bears arms of magdalen hall (and of magdalen college) beside of hertford college (and hart hall) , university.

magdalen hall founded in 1448 william waynflete, bishop of winchester , lord chancellor, later founded magdalen college. site, west of college – on college s st swithun s buildings – grammar school associated tenements providing residence students. first master of grammar school appointed in 1480, , original school building erected in 1486. however, school took independent students belonging college, became independent institution under own principal. magdalen hall known adherence teachings of john wycliffe, , here william tyndale, translator of english bible , martyr, studied. famous student of hall political philosopher thomas hobbes, came in either 1601 or 1602. @ english civil war, magdalen hall known puritan hall under principalship of henry wilkinson.

john macbride became both principal of magdalen hall , lord almoner s professor of arabic in 1813, , plans move hall site of hertford college afoot. on 15 march 1815, magdalen college submitted proposal move convocation. magdalen college proposed repair hertford buildings , defray expense of magdalen hall s move site, while hall relinquish claim own buildings magdalen college. act of parliament passed supporting plan, no move made until fire accidentally started undergraduate on 9 january 1820 destroyed half of magdalen hall s buildings. not long after this, 1 of hertford college s buildings on catte street, flimsy known paper building , collapsed. motivation, new foundation stone of magdalen hall laid @ new site on 3 may 1820, , hall s migration complete 1822. catte street frontage pulled down , rebuilt, , several buildings had storey added them. magdalen hall expanded fill space, , became largest hall far, numbering 214 members in 1846. macbride , vice-principals active in building refounded magdalen hall. distance hall namesake college, macbride attempted change name magdalene hall , change never accepted. macbride served principal 54 years, until death in 1868. macbride sermon, 1 of university sermons, preached each hilary term in chapel of hertford college in memory.

during john macbride s principalship became clear growing, energetic magdalen hall should incorporated college match academic standing in university. seeing name magdalen college taken, favoured option revival of hertford college . macbride succeeded principal vice-principal, richard michell, in 1868. brought bill before parliament in 1873 incorporation of magdalen hall hertford college. bill received significant financial support thomas baring, newly elected mp south essex. baring had been fellow of brasenose college, , had offered substantial endowment of fellowships , scholarships college, had been refused, brasenose rejected conditions of restricting funds members of church of england. however, ease passage of bill, baring removed condition first instalment of endowment (subsequent instalments restricted), , magdalen hall incorporated principal, fellows, , scholars of hertford college (principalis, socii, et scholastici collegii hertfordiensis) on 7 august 1874. thus, michell became last principal of magdalen hall , first principal of refounded hertford college.

baring bought house across new college lane college serve fellows lodgings (at point house named clarendon house), first move of college onto northern side of new college lane. followed purchase of other houses on side of road, collectively known Ædes, , old chapel of our lady @ smithgate (which octagon, housing middle common room). during period, gatehouse built on catte street frontage , old doors reinstalled there. new dining hall built above gatehouse, , of northern side of old quadrangle, apart old hall, rebuilt.

20th , 21st centuries

aerial photograph of oxford hertford college marked: showing 3 quads (ob, nb , hw), chapel, hall, bridge , octagon

in 1877, henry boyd succeeded michell, becoming second principal of refounded hertford college. energy, connections , longevity created modern college today. boyd s name appears carved on landmark bridge of sighs, , commemorated memorial in chapel (to left of chancel) , portrait in hall (at west end of high table). boyd s partnership architect thomas graham jackson brought expansion of college , endowment iconic anglo-jackson buildings. in 1887, jackson began work on gatehouse, hall , spiral staircase, , north range of old quad. in 1901, jackson started building college s site on northern side of new college lane. 1908, had completed new chapel, declared favourite work. eventually, after opposition, built bridge of sighs, linking old , new quads across new college lane, in 1913.

in 2 world wars, total of 171 members of hertford college died (those of world war commemorated memorial on south wall of chancel in chapel, while of world war ii remembered in memorial in portico, right of chapel door). notable among them major percy nugent fitzpatrick, son of james percy fitzpatrick, killed near cambrai on 14 december 1917. death of son james percy fitzpatrick made suggestion after war s end keep two-minute silence each year on armistice day.

in 1922, novelist evelyn waugh came hertford, famously feuding history tutor c. r. m. f. cruttwell (who become fourth principal of refounded college, 1930–1939), , later naming number of odious characters after him. waugh wrote of time @ hertford, no work here , never go chapel . novelised time @ oxford in brideshead revisited, having protagonist charles ryder @ hertford.

starting 1965, hertford made special effort encourage applicants state schools through hertford scheme. had effect of dramatically raising academic standards within college, , other colleges introduced similar initiatives. today among both applications received college , current undergraduates, percentage of individuals state schools applications (out of uk applicants/students) higher @ oxford colleges. commitment diversity in keeping hertford s earlier history of openness throughout twentieth century; hertford admitted first african-american rhodes scholar, alain leroy locke, after had been refused several other colleges.

geoffrey warnock served 9th principal of refounded college 1971 until 1988, , presided on latest period of growth, , established college s leftist credentials. in 1974, hertford became 1 of first 5 co-educational colleges in university (the others being brasenose, jesus college, st catherine s, , wadham). college has equal gender balance, slight variations year year. in memory of warnock, college has student-accommodation building near folly bridge named after him. has memorial in chapel, , portrait behind high table in hall.