St Edmunds

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St Edmund Hall is universally referred to as Teddy Hall and is reckoned by many to be the oldest college in Oxford, the slight detail of not being recognised as a true college until 1957 being relegated to meaningless. The hall was one of a series that were up and educating before the college system evolved. It is named after St Edmund of Abingdon, Archbishop of Canterbury (1234-40), who taught on part of the present site as early as the 1190’s. It occupies a small and compact area that adds to the overall charm, creating a unique atmosphere right in the heart of Oxford. Today it educates 232 postgraduates and 427 undergraduates with a few more men than women – women were first admitted in 1978. Rambling charm The exact date of establishment is lost in a very medieval mist, with various estimations ranging from 1226 to 1278. Either way it is very ancient and hopelessly romantic, even if not much of the original fabric survives – only the well shaft in the compact and glorious Front Quad. The rest of the buildings date from the 16th century. The buildings around this main quad are a rambling collection of homely Gothic and classical unified by time and the beautiful stone textures. The ownership of the land passed through the hands of several heavyweight religious types, who seemed to have encouraged academic study until the time of the Dissolution, when in 1546 the Crown reallocated the land to London property speculators. This could have brought extinction, but the close relationship the hall had with the influential Queen’s College seems to have saved it. The mighty Queen’s looked upon St Edmund Hall as a worthy cause, possessing the lease prior to the Dissolution as well as providing tutors. After a tense and uncert... ... middle of paper ... ... new dining hall and residential accommodation. His economic and bold concrete structure contains loose references to the ancient buildings, but lacks their warmth and paints a rather stark contrast. However vast tracts are now covered with ivy that softens the edges, adds colour and altogether transforms the building into something much more endearing. The college can offer accommodation to nearly all undergraduates for three years – most of it on site with more rooms in annexes not too far away. Budding chefs have access to limited cooking facilities but it is the dining hall that feeds most members, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. The library has over 50,000 volumes with core material available on long-term loan. St Edmund’s is especially successful in sport, drama, journalism, music and the arts, with more fine arts students than any in the university.

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