Records of Hart Hall, University of Oxford, UK (Incorporated as Hertford College...

Hart Hall had existed as an academic hall since the 1280s but there are no surviving records from this period. Its successor body was the Hertford College established by Principal Richard Newton in 1743 and the small collection of records catalogued here relate primarily to this early incarnation of Hertford College. It includes the Foundation Statutes and Rules devised by Principal Newton, and most importantly the early 19th century library catalogues.

Access to the collection is arranged by prior appointment only. Please check with the Archivist as access to some items may be restricted due to conservation or other requirements.

Hart Hall was an academic hall established in Oxford in the 1280s. Unusually, it was one of the few late medieval halls to have a library. From the 15th century the hall began to develop as a separate institution and took in other halls and buildings on the Catte Street site. In 1740 Principal Richard Newton obtained a charter and statutes that incorporated Hart Hall as a full Oxford College; a move that was fiercely disputed by Exeter College which claimed partial ownership of the site. This incarnation of Hertford College was not successful, due to underfunding and inability to attract Fellows and a Principal; and the College was eventually dissolved. In 1816 the site and its assets were transferred by Act of Parliament in trust to Magdalen Hall, which eventually moved to the Catte St site after a fire destroyed its own buildings in 1820. It continued as Magdalen Hall until its incorporation as a full college in 1874 when it took the name of Hertford College.