156 O X F 
of Oxford and the vice-chancellor of the univerfity. A 
preference is given in the choice of ftudents, on the ori¬ 
ginal foundation, to perfons educated in the founder’s 
fchools of Bromfgrove and Feckenham, and to his own. 
kindred. 
The fituation of Worcefter-college is on the weftern 
fide of the city, on an eminence near the bank of the 
river Ills. The buildings form a court, the fouth fide of 
which is (till occupied by a range of old apartments; but 
its other divifions are all of modern eredti'on, and com- 
prife a chapel, a hall, a library, and lodgings for the ac¬ 
commodation of members and ftudents. The architec¬ 
ture of thefe portions is grand and impofing, though Am¬ 
ple and devoid of ornament. The library, however, is 
fupported by a fpacious cloifter in the front towards the 
court; and is particularly remarkable for a valuable col¬ 
lection of architectural books and manufcripts. 
20. Hertford College, the laft we have to notice, 
was the ancient Hart hall, which was founded by William 
Stapledon, bifhop of Exeter, and continued attached to 
Exeter-college till the year 1740, when it was elevated to 
the rank of an independent college by Dr. Newton, (fee 
vol. xvii. p, 36.) who bellowed upon it his whole pro¬ 
perty. This however proved infufficient for its in¬ 
tended purpofes ; and, as few benefaCtors appeared in aid, 
the inftitution declined. Since 1805 it has had no princi¬ 
pal, and in 1812 there was only one fellow, though by the 
itatutes the fociety was made to confift of a principal, four 
fer.ior fellows, and eight junior fellows or aftiltants. Ac¬ 
cording to the defign of Dr. Newton, the buildings of this 
college were to have formed one fpacious quadrangle, 
containing a chapel, hall, and library, lodgings for the 
principal, and apartments for the fociety. Of this plan 
only a part had been carried into execution, and that by 
the founder liimfelf, no additions having been made fince 
liis death. The portions of Hart hall left Handing were, 
the refeCtory, built in the reign of queen Elizabeth, the 
old principal’s lodgings, with the kitchen and chambers 
over them, and the gatehoufe and library. 
At length, the college, being entirely deferted, was con- 
fidered to have efcheated to the crown; and his prefent 
majelty, when regent, w r as gracioufly pleafed, in the name 
and on the behalf of the late king, to direCt a grant of the 
ftte, with all the property attached to it, including an 
excellent library of books, to be made to the chancellor, 
mafters, and fcholars, of the univerfity, in truft for the 
principal and other members of Magdalen-hall for ever. 
In confequence of Magdalen-hall being burnt down, as 
mentioned below, the royal gift became extremely va¬ 
luable and appropriate; and on the 3d of May, 1820, the 
vice-prefident and fellows of Magdalen-college went in 
proceftion from St. Mary’s church to the diftolved college 
of Hertford, for the purpofe of laying the foundation- 
Itone of the new buildings intended for the future refi- 
dence of the members of Magdalen-hall; the principal 
and vice-principal of that fociety were alfo in the pro¬ 
ceftion. The (tone was laid by the Rev. T. N. Blagden, 
B. D. vice-prefident of Magdalen-college, afiifted by the 
architect, Mr. Garbett of Winchefter, and by the builder, 
Mr. Evans of London. A brafs-plate was placed in the 
centre of the foundation-done, on which was engraved 
the following infcription : “ In Honorem Dei bonarum- 
que Literarum ProfeCtum Imum liunc Lapidem Aulse 
Magdalenenfis Regis Georgii Quarti Aufpiciis in Alia 
Sede Renovatae Collegium Magdalenenfe, P.C.” 
Of the numerous halls, hoftels, or inns, which were 
the only houfes originally poffeffed by the ftudents of 
Oxford, only five fubfift at prefent, one of which is def- 
titute of ftudents. Each hall is governed by a principal, 
under the guidance of ftatutes originally drawn up by 
the principal of the univerfity, and alterable at his plea- 
fure. This officer is officially vifitor of all the halls; and 
has the power of nominating the whole of the principals, 
except the principal of St. Edmund’s Hall, who is eleCted 
O R D. 
by the provoft and fellows of Queen’s College. The ftu¬ 
dents in thefe halls have equal univerfity-privileges with 
thofe belonging to the colleges; and are fubjeCt to the 
feme regulations with refpeCt to difcipline, courfe of ftu- 
dies, tuition, length of refidence, examinations, drefs, &c. 
1. St. Alban’s Hall, the moft ancient of thofe now 
remaining, is fituated on the eaft fide of Merton-college. 
This hall derived its name from Robert de SanCto Albano, 
a burgefs of Oxford, in the reign of king John. In the 
time of Henry VI. it was united to Nunne-hali, which 
flood weft from it; but its principals were appointed by 
Merton-college. Henry VIII. granted both halls con¬ 
joined, in the name of Alban-hall, to his phyfician, from 
whom it palled to different proprietors, and is now the 
property of the warden and fellow's of Merton-college. 
The.buildings of this hall form a quadrangle, plain in its 
architecture, but commodious in refpeCt to internal ar¬ 
rangements. It has no chapel. 
2. Edmund Hall is traditionally fo called from St. 
Edmund, archbilhop of Canterbury in the reign of 
Henry III. At the diflolution, it belonged to Ofeney- 
priory; and foon after that event came into the poffeffion 
of Queen’s College, and was renewed as a place of ftudy 
under the aufpices of that inftitution, to which it ftill 
continues attached. Several extenfive additions to the 
old buildings of this hall have been made during the two 
laft centuries, chiefly by the liberality of its own members, 
and thofe of Queen’s College. The library, begun in 
1680, has been enriched by feveral valuable collections of 
books and manufcripts. This portion of the buildings, 
as.well as the chapel, was ereCted by Stephen Penton, B.D. 
principal, and chiefly at his own expenfe. 
3. St. Mary’s Hall was anciently conveyed to the 
reCtors of St. Mary’s church for a parfonage-lioufe; and 
remained in their pofleflion till the year 1325, when Ed¬ 
ward II. gave it, with the advowfon of the church, to the 
fociety of Oriel-college, who converted it into an acade¬ 
mical hall in 1333, under its prefent appellation. The 
buildings are arranged in the form of a quadrangle, con¬ 
taining lodgings for the principal on the north, a hall and 
chapel on the fouth, and apartments for the ftudents on 
the weft and eaft, all of which have either been rebuilt or 
much improved within the laft century. 
4. New-Inn Hall is entirely gone to decay, the only 
part of its buildings now remaining being a houfe for the 
principal, who is only nominally fuch, there having been 
no ftudents at this hall for many years. It was at one 
time, however, very famous for ftudents of the civil and 
canon law, and produced many eminent characters in 
that faculty. In 1642 it was occupied as a mint by king 
Charles I. who here melted down the plate prefented to 
him by the univerfity. It has no chapel. 
5. St. Mary-Magdalen Hall was founded as a gram- 
mar-fchool in 1480 by William Waynflete, founder of 
Magdalen-college, to which it immediately adjoins. It 
was firft called Grammar-hall, but received the name of 
Magdalen-hall upon being enlarged, and placed upon the 
fame footing with refpeCt to academical privileges as the 
other halls. This foundation appears to have been ge¬ 
nerally in a very flourifliing condition, and at one time is 
faid to have had nearly three hundred members ; but it is 
difficult to conceive how fo many perfons could be accom¬ 
modated within its walls. Dr. William Lucy, and fome 
other benefactors, eftablilhed a number of exhibitions in 
this hall for the benefit and encouragement of the ftudents. 
Part of the buildings were ereCted by the munificence of 
private individuals, among whom Dr. John Wilkinfon, 
principal from 1605 to 1643, and his fucceffor Henry 
Wilkinfon, are defervedly the moft noted. The latter 
built the library, and procured for it a good collection of 
books. This feminary boafts the education of the cele¬ 
brated lord Clarendon. 
Nearly the whole of Magdalen-hall, confiding of eigh¬ 
teen fets of rooms, with an immenfe quantity of books 
4 and 
