Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford

Lady Margaret Hall

Blazon: Or, on a chevron between in chief two talbots passant and in base a bell azure a portcullis of the field.
                  
University Oxford
Coordinates 51°45′53″N 1°15′15″W / 51.76483°N 1.254036°W / 51.76483; -1.254036Coordinates: 51°45′53″N 1°15′15″W / 51.76483°N 1.254036°W / 51.76483; -1.254036
Motto Souvent me Souviens
("I remember often")
Established 1878
Named for Lady Margaret Beaufort
Sister college Newnham College, Cambridge
Principal Alan Rusbridger
Undergraduates 391[1] (2016/2017)
Postgraduates 201
Website www.lmh.ox.ac.uk
Boat club www.lmhbc.com
Map
Location in Oxford city centre

Lady Margaret Hall, more formally "The Principal, Council, and Members of Lady Margaret Hall", (commonly referred to as LMH) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located on the banks of the River Cherwell at Norham Gardens in north Oxford.

The hall was founded as the first women's college in Oxford, though it has now admitted men for more than thirty years; both undergraduate and graduate students are admitted.

The current principal of the college is Alan Rusbridger.

In 2017, LMH ranked 14th out of 30 in Oxford's Norrington Table (a way of measuring the performance of students at each college in finals).[2]

The hall's colours are blue and yellow (sometimes also with white).

The college's motto is "Souvent me Souviens", an Old French phrase meaning "I remember often".

History

Lady Margaret Beaufort, for whom the college is named
Lady Margaret Beaufort, for whom the college is named

Lady Margaret Hall, the first women's college in Oxford, was founded in 1878 and opened its doors to its first nine students the following year.

It was founded by Edward Stuart Talbot, then Warden of Keble College, and his wife Lavinia.[3] The college was named after Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of King Henry VII, patron of scholarship and learning. The first principal was Elizabeth Wordsworth, the great-niece of the poet William Wordsworth and daughter of Christopher Wordsworth, Bishop of Lincoln.

With a new building opening in 1894 the hall expanded to 25 students which was intended to be the final number.[4]

The land on which the hall is built was formaly part of the manor of Norham which belonged to the St John's College. The hall bough the lands on which it sits from St Johns in 1894, the other institution driving a hard bargain and requiring a development price on lands beyond the practical building land but also on the undevelopable water meadows. However, this land purchase marked a change in ambition from occupying residential buildings for teaching purposes to buildings fitting educational institution with buildings worthy of that ambition.

In 1979, one hundred years after its foundation, the hall began admitting men as well as women; it was the first of the women's colleges to do so, along with St. Anne's.

Buildings, grounds and architecture

The Hall, LMH
The Hall, LMH

The development of the college's buildings is perhaps best thought of as a zigzag beginning in the 1870s at the end of Norham Gardens and making its way down towards the River Cherwell and then running back towards Norham Gardens forming quadrangles on the return journey. The following account of the buildings moves through the college as these spaces emerge for a visitor entering the college at the Porters' Lodge and walking to the river - because of the way the college developed the dates, along with the styles of the buildings enclosing these quadrangles are not all of a piece.

Leatare Quadrangle

Entrance to Lady Margaret Hall
Entrance to Lady Margaret Hall

The entrance quad was completed in March 2017 and includes both the college's newest and oldest buildings. The main entrance consists of the front gates flanked by classical columns along with the porters lodge (2017). On the North West side the Donald Fothergill Building (2017) contains student accommodation while the Clore graduate centre (2017) extends further out to the South East towards university parks.[5]

The college's oldest buildings are along the South East side of the Leatre Quadrangle. The college's original house, a white brick gothic villa, is now known as Old Old Hall (1879), while the adjoining red brick extension is known as new old hall (1884).[4]

Opposite the entrance is the imposing Wolfson West (1964) which was previously the entrance to the college.

Old Old Hall, which had been as a speculation property on land leased from St John's College, was described as an "ugly little white villa" by the college's founder, Bishop Talbot in his 1923 history of the college.[6] On several occasions in the twentieth century consideration was given to demolishing the easiest buildings of the college, but the temptation was resisted.

Wolfson Quadrangle

The Wolfson Quadrangle outside Talbot Hall

The architect of the main early college buildings was Sir Reginald Blomfield, including Lodge and Talbot and Wordsworth (and who had earlier worked on other educational commissions such as Shrewsbury School, and Exeter College, Oxofrd) used the French Renaissance style of the 17th century and chose red brick with white stone facings, setting a tone the college was to continue to follow in later work. These buildings describe the south and east of the Wolfson Quadrangle and run out into the gardens to the east.

Blomfield was also involved in establishing and planning the gardens.

The central block, the Talbot Building (1910) on the North East of the main quad houses Talbot Hall and the Old Library (currently a reception and lecture room),[7] while the accommodation for students and tutors is divided between three wings, the Wordsworth Building (1896), the Toynbee Building (1915) and the Lodge Building (1926).[8]

Talbot Hall contains some fine oak panelling donated by former students to honour Elizabeth Wordsworth.

The portraits in the Hall include the work of notable artists; among the portraits of principals are:

In the old Library is a fine marble statue by Edith Bateson.

On the North West is Lynda Grier (1962) housing the college library[9].

The ground floor of Lynda Grier was originally student accommodation but in 2006 it was converted into a law library it was opened that year by Cherie Blair.[10]

Lynda Griere and Wolfson West were designed by Raymond Erith.

Lannon Quadrangle

Lannon Quadrangle Lady Margaret Hall
Lannon Quadrangle Lady Margaret Hall

The back of Lynda Grier forms another quad consisting of an accommodation tower block Sutherland (1971) and the Pipe Partride Building (2010)[11].

Behind this is Sutherland's sister block Katie Lee (1972).

The Pipe Partridge Building includes the 136-seat Simpkins Lee theatre,[12] a dining hall, seminar rooms, JCR common rooms, and 64 new undergraduate study bedrooms.[13]

It won the Georgian Group award for the best new building in the classical tradition[14]

Chapel and Deneke

To the north-east extends the large Deneke block (1932) along with the hall and the college's Byzantine-style chapel.

The chapel is in the form of a Greek cross was dedicated by the college's founder Edward Stuart Talbot, in January 1933.[15]

These were designed by Giles Gilbert Scott, famous for designing Liverpool Cathedral and the K2 red telephone box.

Gardens and grounds

LMH Talbot Hall seen with the wild flower meadow in the Wolfson Quadrangle
LMH Talbot Hall as seen from the Garden

Lady Margaret Hall is one of the few Oxford colleges on the River Cherwell. It is set in spacious grounds (about 12 acres (49,000 m2)).The grounds include a set of playing fields, tennis courts, a punt house, topiary, and large herbaceous planting schemes along with vegetable borders.There is a manicured Fellows' Garden - hidden from view by tall hedgerows - and a Fellow's Lawn.

In recent years the Wolfson Quadrangle has, in contrast to many Oxbridge Quadrangles, be down to wild flower meadow mixes, as distinct from the intensively managed, striped quadrangle lawns found elsewhere.

Recent developments

In 2005, the college commissioned John Simpson Architects to prepare a masterplan for the enlargement of LMH.

The first phase, the Pipe Partridge Building, was completed in early 2010 and was opened by the Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Lord Patten of Barnes, in April 2010.[16]

A new porters lodge, graduate centre and further accommodation was finished in March 2017.[5]

Art Collection

In light of its history, the hall has an interesting collection of portraits of early/distinguished women academics.

Early Principals Lynda Grier, Dame Lucy Sutherland and Sally Chilver, along with other members of the college, were keen collectors of contemporary art and bequeathed many of these works to the College.

A Fellow in Fine Art, Elizabeth Price, was shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 2012[17]. 

The college's art collection includes works by:

Student life

The Junior Common Room ('JCR') is a physical room as well as being the association of the undergraduate members of the hall. It represents its members to the college authorities and facilitates activities, budgets as well as clubs and societies.

The 2017 Graduate Centre including MCR
The 2017 Graduate Centre including MCR

Graduate students have similar support from that for the JCR in the Middle Common Room ('MCR').

The Senior Common Room ('SCR') is performs similar functions for the dons.

Accommodation

Talbot Hall LMH
Talbot Hall LMH

As well as rooms for accommodation, the buildings of Lady Margret Hall include a chapel, a hall, a library, a bars, a gym and common rooms for dons, graduates and undergraduates.

Accommodation is usually provided for all undergraduates, and for some graduates.

Members often dine in hall, in which there are informal and formal meals. Gowns are not worn to even formal hall.

Facilities

Most undergraduate tutorials are carried out in the college, though for some specialist subjects undergraduates may be sent to tutors in other colleges.

There are lecture theatres, halls, seminar and coaching rooms.There is also a gym and an ergo-meter building.

Sports

The College First VIII racing in Eights Week - rowing is one of the sporting activities of students at Oxford
LMH 1st VIII racing in Eights Week - rowing is one of the sporting activities of students at Oxford

There are various sports clubs including a Rowing Club with a boat house shared with Trinity College on Boat House Island.

College societies include[18]:

Chalk Arms recording rowing successes at LMH
Chalk Arms recording rowing successes at LMH

Rowing

Lady Margaret Hall Boat Club Rowing Blazer
Lady Margaret Hall Boat Club Rowing Blazer

The hall's boat club has, like other UK Rowing Clubs, distinctive blazers which can be awarded by the club to members who attain membership of certain VIIIs or race with distinction in Summer Eights or Torpids.

These blazers have blue and yellow trim and a blue Beaufort portcullis on them, which is the emblem of the boat club and increasingly other sports clubs.

Members of LMH JCR in punts on an open day
Members of LMH JCR in punts on an open day

Football

There are three men’s football teams as well as a joint LMH-Trinity women’s team.

The competitive 1st XI that recently reached a Cuppers semi-final.

Other sports

The other sports the hall has teams for, which represent the instutition in internal Oxford University cometitons, often called 'Cuppers' are:

Simpkins Lee Theatre LMH
Simpkins Lee Theatre LMH

Foundation Year

In 2016, a 'Foundation Year' scheme was founded to to recruit students from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as discover potential graduates who would not otherwise win admission.

These non-degree admissions are a pioneering new model of entry into a Oxford College[19]

Coat of Arms

The college's coat of arms features devices that recall those associated with its foundation.

The portcullis is from the arms of Lady Margaret Beaufort, the bell is a symbol of the Wordsworth family.

LMH Coat of Arms
LMH Coat of Arms

The Talbot dogs represent Edward Talbot.

Steam Locomotive

A Great Western Railway 6959 Class locomotive named "Lady Margaret Hall", number 7911, was built in 1950.

It was one of the 'Modified Hall' class and it was in service in the South East until December 1963.[20]

Notable people

Notable fellows

Notable fellows of the college include:

Visiting fellows

The college has a number of Visiting Fellows. Holders of this non-salaried role are drawn from a variety of backgrounds, callings and professions.

These fellowships are for three years and have included:

The fellowships are intended to form a bridge between the academic community and the worlds they inhabit[21]

Principals

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Student numbers". Ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  2. ↑ "Undergraduate Degree Classifications | University of Oxford". www.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2017-08-11.
  3. ↑ Alden's Oxford Guide. Oxford: Alden & Co., 1958; pp. 120–21
  4. 1 2 "LMH, Oxford - New Old Hall". Lmh.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  5. 1 2 "New buildings 2007-2017". Lady Margaret Hall. Retrieved 2017-04-02.
  6. ↑ Stamers-Smith, Eileen (3 August 1996). "Sir Reginald Blomfield's Designs for the Garden of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford". Garden History. 24 (1): 114–121. doi:10.2307/1587104. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  7. ↑ "LMH, Oxford - Talbot". Lmh.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  8. ↑ "LMH, Oxford - Eleanor Lodge". Lmh.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  9. ↑ "LMH, Oxford - Library". Lmh.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  10. ↑ "LMH Library". Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  11. ↑ "LMH, Oxford - Pipe Partridge". Lmh.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  12. ↑ "Simpkins Lee Theatre". Simpkinsleetheatre.com. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  13. ↑ "Lady Margaret Hall Phase I and II". Johnsimpsonarchitects.com. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  14. ↑ "Pipe Partridge wins an award". Lmh.aox.ac.uk. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  15. ↑ Alden (1958)
  16. ↑ "opening of the Pipe Partridge Building". Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. 26 April 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  17. ↑ "Lady Margaret Hall, University of Oxford | Art UK". artuk.org. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
  18. ↑ "Societies and clubs | Lady Margaret Hall". Lady Margaret Hall. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
  19. ↑ editor, Richard Adams Education (2016-04-20). "Oxford college launches pilot scheme to recruit disadvantaged students". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
  20. ↑ "Great Western Railway Hall class details". www.greatwestern.org.uk. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
  21. ↑ "Visiting Fellows | Lady Margaret Hall". Lady Margaret Hall. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
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