LADY MARGARET HALL
History
Lady Margaret Hall came into existence in 1878. On 4 June Dr. Edward
Talbot, Warden of Keble, before a committee of interested persons, moved a resolution 'to
attempt the establishment in Oxford of a small Hall …
in connexion with the Church of England, for the
reception of women desirous of availing themselves of
the special privileges which Oxford offers of higher
education'. The University, in connexion with the plan
of University Extension, had drawn up a scheme of
lectures and examinations for women in Oxford, and if
others besides residents in the town were to make use of
it, the provision of a hostel was necessary. At first one
hall only was intended, but to prevent denominational
friction, it was judged wiser that there should be two,
one (Lady Margaret Hall) conducted on Church of
England principles and one non-sectarian (Somerville).
By 22 June a complete scheme was drawn up whereby
the Association for the Education of Women, a body
which was created on that day, undertook the supervision of the educational work of the students in the
halls, as well as of the Home Students; and for many
years the Halls were officially described as 'approved by
the A.E.W.' and it was not intended that they should
be anything more than suitable lodgings; but as they
grew in size, they inevitably became independent of the
A.E.W.
Dr. Talbot's scheme was received with disapproval
on many sides. Dr. Liddon thought it 'an educational
development which runs counter to the wisdom and
experience of all the centuries of Christendom' and,
alarmed by the rumour that the hall was to be named
after Mr. Keble, said 'nobody who knew Mr. Keble
can doubt what he would have thought of bringing
young women to Oxford'. Miss Charlotte M. Yonge
thought that 'a mere boarding house on good principles
where young ladies may be sent to prepare for examinations may be an institution worthy of support but not
commanding any enthusiasm.' Miss Elizabeth Sewell
disapproved strongly: 'I think the competition with
young men highly undesirable, and the unavoidable
publicity in a place of comparatively small size dangerous to women at an age so open to vanity and excitement.' Prof. Max Muller thought Oxford was the
worst place in the world for a ladies' college; and even
Miss Beale, at that early date, 'doubted whether there
were at present many women able to profit by any high
teaching'. But supported by the encouragement of
Professor T. H. Green, Dr. Mackarness, Bishop of
Oxford, Mark Pattison, and others, Dr. Talbot's committee sent out a circular to indicate the nature of
the proposed hall as 'An Academical House on the
principles of the Church of England (with provision
for the liberty of members of other religious bodies)
which will secure to the students the following advantages: a common life with the ways and tone of a
Christian family; the protection of certain rules as to
hours, society, Sec; general supervision of studies,
definite religious instruction, and the advice and assistance of a lady of experience and other high qualifications, acting as Lady Principal'. (fn. 1) On 21 Nov. 1878 a
happy choice gave this post to Miss Elizabeth Wordsworth, daughter of the Bishop of Lincoln, (fn. 2) who by her
wisdom, learning, and humour guided the hall through
its early uncertainties. At her suggestion the hall was
named after Lady Margaret Beaufort, Countess of
Richmond, and mother of Henry VII, who, in her
phrase as 'A scholar, a gentlewoman and a saint', might
stand as an ideal for the educated English woman. On
16 Oct. 1879 Lady Margaret Hall, housed in a white
brick 'family residence', the last house on the south side
of Norham Gardens, was opened by the Bishop of
Oxford. Nine students were in residence. (fn. 3)
The site was wisely chosen; open meadow land on
the east allowed for further expansion, until now Lady
Margaret Hall with its buildings, gardens, and playingfields covers rather more than 11 acres between the
Parks and the river Cherwell. The white house proved
inadequate almost at once.
The first two extensions, in 1881 and 1883, aimed at
'raising the Hall to the final number of about twentyfive students'. (fn. 4) By 1892 the numbers had reached
forty-one, (fn. 5) and an extension was necessary. An appeal
was launched for funds, and an adjoining freehold site
was acquired from St. John's, being a meadow, known
in the Middle Ages as Bradmore, bounded by the Cher
well on the east and Holywell Manor on the south.
On 15 Oct. 1896 the new Wordsworth Building,
though as a block incomplete, was opened. (fn. 6) By
Michaelmas 1902 there were fifty-four students in
residence; the Report speaks of the pressure on space as
becoming 'Yearly more inconvenient', (fn. 7) and 1909–10
saw the erection of an important central block, with a
dining-hall and library. (fn. 8) In 1915, despite the war,
the design was completed by the addition of a new
wing, Toynbee Building, named in grateful recognition
of the work of Mrs. Arnold Toynbee, the hall's
treasurer.
By 1921 numbers had risen to 105; and in 1923 the
council was compelled to embark on a further extension, this time with a block to link up Old Hall and
Wordsworth Building. This addition, commemorating
the devoted service to the hall of Dr. Eleanor Lodge,
was opened in 1926. (fn. 9) But two hostels still were necessary, and the dining-hall, kitchens, and library had
long become inadequate. Once more a building plan
was discussed, but with little hope, for the finances of
the hall did not justify so heavy an outlay; but it was
made possible by the munificence of Mrs. Edward S.
Harkness of New York, who, in Oct. 1930, crowned her
other benefactions by one of £35,000 to build the
necessary accommodation for all the out-living students
and tutors. (fn. 10) This generous gift was made through
Miss Margaret Deneke, then in America on one of her
many musical tours on behalf of the hall funds, and was
a fitting climax to her work for the hall. The council
now felt justified in raising a sum sufficient to complete
the extension. This new wing, adjoining Toynbee and
named Deneke at Mrs. Harkness's special request,
'After those who worked for it and not after those who
merely gave money', (fn. 11) was opened in 1932. At last the
Principal, the fellows and tutors, the administrative
officers, the 156 students, and the domestic staff were
housed under one roof. The total number of undergraduates permitted by University Statute to be in
residence is 160, but under various concessions to meet
conditions arising from the war there are at present 195
students in residence, reading for Honours Degrees,
including a number of war-time graduates now reading
for a full degree. Of these 172 are housed in the hall.
The provision of a chapel was always regarded as of
paramount importance. Originally, one room fitted up
as a chapel was dedicated by the Bishop of Oxford on
the Feast of the Purification, 1886, and served until
1921, when increased numbers made some fresh
development essential. The chapel fund, long inaugurated by Old Students, being still insufficient for a
worthy building, an army hut was set up in the grounds
as a temporary measure in 1921. (fn. 12) At length, by gifts
from many friends and by bequest—notably from Mrs.
Toynbee in 1931, and from Miss Tidd-Pratt and Dame
Elizabeth Wordsworth (fn. 13) in 1932–funds permitted
the erection of a chapel as part of the 1930–2 buildingscheme. On 27 Jan. 1932 the foundation-stone was laid
by the hall's founder, Bishop Talbot, and on 14 Jan.
1933, in the last year of his life, he dedicated it. (fn. 14)
The library, built in 1909 as part of Talbot Building,
has overflowed its original domain, and after Deneke
was built in 1932 the whole of the central block was
adapted for library purposes. At present it houses about
24,500 volumes.
Lady Margaret Hall was constituted under a Deed
of Trust in 1892 and its property vested in three
trustees. In 1913 it became a Limited Liability
Company, though not for profit, under the Companies
Act (1908), and in 1926 was incorporated by Royal
Charter under the name of 'The Principal, Council,
and Members of Lady Margaret Hall'. The charter is
unique in incorporating not only the Principal and
council, but also the students—past, present, and future
members of the body corporate. (fn. 15) By a decree of Convocation 15 June 1920 the hall was admitted to the
privileges of Stat. Tit. XXIII of Women Students.
The government of the hall is vested in a council
consisting of twenty-four members, which includes the
Principal, treasurer, official and professorial fellows, and
not less than six elected members called 'councillors'.
The council may elect as Visitor any person holding
high judicial or ecclesiastical office, or a member of the
Privy Council. The office is at present held by the
Chancellor of the University, the Rt. Hon. the Earl
of Halifax.
It was in the years 1892–4 that the halls, by general
agreement, became independent of the A.E.W. in most
matters. At that time they contained about 100 members, and with the Home Students the numbers were
such that the Secretary of A.E.W. could not superintend their studies individually. The heads of the halls
now undertook this work, and by this time there were
women capable of acting as tutors. At Lady Margaret
the first resident tutor was for history; there are now
eleven full-time tutors attached to the hall, as well as
several lecturers and part-time tutors.
There are twelve endowed scholarships; the Armorel Daphne Heron-Allen of £300 (for Physiology,
Zoology or Biochemistry); the Nuffield, £100 (for
Medicine); the Mary Stillman Harkness, £60; the
Joan Ashdown, £60 (for Classics); two Clara Sophie
Deneke Scholarships, £40 each (one for Music); two
James Cropper Scholarships, £40 each; the Mary
Talbot, £40 (for members of the Church of England);
the Kathailin M'Gonigle, £40 (for Modern Languages); the Tullis, £40 (for daughters of professional
men); the Maud Hay, £40. There are scholarships not
endowed: the John Malcolm Mitchell or John Edwin
Cooney, £80 (given alternately); two Old Students'
Scholarships (or exhibitions), given annually by subscription. There is one endowed exhibition and the
hall provides further scholarships and exhibitions out
of its revenues; the names of various benefactors of the
hall are attached to some of these from time to time:
John Gamble, Jephson, &c. There is a Resident
Research Fellowship of £300 (endowed); the Sir
Ernest Cassel Tutorial Fellowship of £300; the Susette
Taylor Fellowship of £150 (for study abroad); two
Senior Scholarships for research, each of £100, pardy
provided from special funds. The hall is virtually without endowment, beyond the scholarships and fellowships mentioned above.
In 69 years there have been only four Principals.
Miss Wordsworth, appointed in 1878, resigned in
1909, by which time the hall was firmly established,
to which her own work had contributed not a little.
She was followed by Miss Henrietta Jex-Blake, whose
twelve years covered the difficult war and post-war
period. To her succeeded in 1921 Miss Lynda Grier
whose 24 years' reign saw an unexampled growth in the
size and prosperity of the hall. She was succeeded in
1945 by Miss Lucy Sutherland.
In addition mention should be made of Mrs.
Arnold Toynbee, a devoted House-Treasurer from
1883 to 1920, whose active interest ceased only with
her death in 1931. Toynbee Building commemorates
her, as does the chapel; for her legacy made its completion possible. Other good friends were Mrs. Arthur
Johnson, the secretary of the Association for the Education of Women from 1883 to 1894 and of the hall from
1880 to 1914, and Dr. Eleanor Lodge, sometime
Principal of Westfield College, whose service to the hall
as tutor and Vice-Principal covered twenty-six years and
is commemorated in the building that bears her name.
It was a matter of congratulation that both the founder,
Bishop Talbot, and the first Principal, Dame Elizabeth
Wordsworth, were able to be present at the hall's
jubilee in 1928. She lived to see the completion of
Deneke and the first beginnings of the chapel, but died
on 30 Nov. 1932: a year later Bishop Talbot's long life
came to an end. The sixty-nine years of the hall's
existence have seen developments never expected by its
founders, viz. its evolution from small beginnings, with
their pleasant suggestion of chaperoned family life, to
the status of an official college, fully recognized by, and
taking an active part in, the University.
The Buildings
The original house, opened
in 1878, though reflecting the
architectural taste of the period,
is, with the exception of a cumbersome porch, pleasantly
free from the excesses of 'domestic Gothic'. It is a
white-brick 'family residence'; undistinguished but
with a look of comfort. Rather more graceful additions
were made in 1881 and 1883 in the then fashionable
red brick and terra-cotta from the design of Mr. Basil
Champneys. In 1896 a detached wing, Wordsworth
Building, lying in line with the original hall, was erected
as part of a homogeneous block to be created later. The
design, by Sir Reginald Blomfield, is more formal and
spacious, and the whole building, to which in 1909 was
added a handsome central block, is in red brick, with
stone facings, in the late 17th-century French style. It
is known as Talbot Building and contains a large hall,
panelled in oak in commemoration of Miss Wordsworth's principalship, and used until 1931 as the
dining-hall, with a handsome library above it, divided
into bays by pillars. In 1915 a balancing wing, Toynbee
Building, was added by Sir Reginald as formerly
planned. In 1926 Sir Reginald was also responsible for
Lodge Building, a wing in a similar style, to link
Wordsworth with Old Hall. Deneke, the last extension,
adjoining Toynbee, was erected in 1931 from the
design of Sir Giles Scott. The building, in multicoloured brick in which a greyish tone predominates,
contains a new dining-hall, panelled in dark oak, with
a ceiling of light oak.
The chapel, in the Byzantine style, in the form of a
Greek cross, is in the same multi-coloured brick, with
dressings of Clipsham stone. It was built in 1932, from
the design of Sir Giles Scott. The brick walls support
a concrete dome of 28 ft. span, pierced with twentyfour lights, and carried directly on the pendentives.
The arches and pendentives are of reinforced concrete.
The apsidal east end is covered by a plaster semidome. At the west end is an organ gallery approached
by two flights of steps. The organ case, stalls, and
lectern are all in light oak, while the detail of the west
door is particularly pleasing. The baldacchino, altar
candlesticks, and the sedilia in the chancel all form part
of the Wordsworth Memorial. The original communion plate was given by Bishop and Mrs. Talbot, and
a second very beautiful chalice and paten in memory of
Frances Vera Kempe. Over the altar is a 15th-century
painting in tempera of the Flagellation, ascribed to
Taddeo Gaddi. It was presented by Miss E. Edwards.
There is also a triptych in water-colour of the Annunciation, Nativity, and Flight into Egypt, by Sir Edward
Burne-Jones, and a plaster cast of the recumbent effigy
of the Lady Margaret in Westminster Abbey.
The hall possesses the following portraits: Dame
Elizabeth Wordsworth, by Charles Shannon, 1894;
Miss Henrietta Jex-Blake, by Philip de Laszlo; Dr.
Edward Stuart Talbot, after George Richmond, by
Mrs. Lee-Merrit; Mrs. Arnold Toynbee, by Mrs. LeeMerrit; Dr. Eleanor Constance Lodge, by John Souter;
Miss Lynda Grier, by James Gunn; Miss Evelyn
Jamison, by Janet Robertson; Dr. Janet Spens, by
E. Plachter; Mrs. Edward S. Harkness, by Frank O.
Salisbury.
The arms of the Hall are: Or on a chevron between
two talbots in chief and a bell in base azure a portcullis
of the field. Thus is combined the portcullis of the Lady
Margaret, talbots, which appear as supporters of the
Talbot arms, and the bell from the Wordsworth coat.
Remembrance of the Lady Margaret is emphasized by
the adoption of the Beaufort Motto: 'Souvent me
Souviens'.