St Edmund Hall Quad (1990)

Affectionately known throughout the University as Teddy Hall, this society has always been closely associated with Queen's. Though there is no evidence to support this, Edmund Rich is said to be the Founder of this society. St. Edmund was born in Abingdon and came to Oxford to study. Tradition has it that it was in the fields between Abingdon and Oxford that he met the child Jesus, who marvelled that Edmund did not at once recog­nise Him. St. Edmund to seal his vow of perpetual virginity, placed a ring on the finger of Our Lady's statue in St. Mary's. In 1234 he became Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Hall, whoever founded it, came into the hands of the Canons of Oseney in 1269 and remained in the hands of those patrons of learning until Henry's suppression of the monasteries. In 1546 it was sold by Henry III passing into several hands, finally to be purchased by Queen's in 1557, and until 1937 Queen's appointed the Hall's principals from her own fellows.

The chapel at the east end of the quadrangle, completed in 1682 was dedicated by Dr. Fell to the reported founder of the hall. Pluckily the Hall has withstood all attempts at absorption and is the only ancient hall that has succeeded in maintaining a separate existence.

In 1852 the Royal Commission on the University reported that despite lack of endowments the Hall was at that time one of the cheapest places of education in Oxford. The Hall owes its present eminence in no small part to the personalities of its recent Principals.

Dates: Chapel 1682, Library 1682, Gatehouse 17th Century, Hall 17th Century.