ST. MARY'S HALL. The buildings of this Hall, although disposed in the usual quadrangular form, possess in a less degree than any of the three previously described that peculiarity of aspect which bespeaks their academical destination. In the south-eastern corner, however, the hawk's eye of an antiquary will readily detect the CHAPEL, by the form of its windows. In this Chapel, which was built in 1640, is contained (inclosed in a silver case) the heart of Dr. William King, Principal of the Hall during forty-four years. The epitaph was written by the Doctor himself, who, besides being confessedly one of the most learned men of his day, also greatly distinguished himself as a satirist, and political writer. Aided by the contributions of many noblemen and gentlemen who had received their education under his superintendence, the Doctor rebuilt the eastern division of the court. The northern side, which is allotted as the Principal's residence, was built in 1719 by Principal Hudson, on the site of the old Refectory. The southern side has been more recently improved by Principal Nowell, who was assisted in the work by the contributions of various other members of the Society. This Hall was anciently termed the Hall of St. Mary the Virgin in Schydiard Street, by which name it was given to the Rectors of St. Mary's parish, to be occupied by them as a parsonage house. And thus it continued to be occupied till the year 1325, at which time it was converted into an academical Hall. NEW INN HALL stood (for we cannot with propriety use the present tense) in a lane that derived its name from the establishment. This Hall has been, for several years past, deserted as a place of study; and now, the only remaining portion of the buildings is a house for the Principal. Its name originated in an appropriation of the premises, which appear to have consisted of several tenements, by William of Wykeham, in 1391, to New College. Previously to this appropriation they were called Trilleck's Inns, from a Bishop of Hereford of that name. From this Bishop they descended, by sundry intermediate proprietors, to the illustrious founder of New College. The original inhabitants of the house appear to have been monks of St. Bernard, who resided in a Formerly, however, this lane was called the Seven Deadly Sins, but whence it derived so singular an appellation, does not seem to be known. it previously to the building of their College, now St. John's. It afterwards became a law seminary of considerable note. During the greater part of the sixteenth and at the beginning of the seventeenth century, it was in a languishing state; but, in the year 1626, Christopher Rogers became Principal, under whose auspices the character of the house rapidly revived, so that it became "not "unusual to admit forty students in a year." Between the years 1642 and 1648, a mint was established within this Hall, for the purpose of coining the plate contributed by Colleges and Halls towards supplying the necessities of the unfortunate Charles the First: "a laudable and "very seasonable proof of loyalty," says Mr. Warton, "but much regretted by the lovers of ancient "art, as it destroyed many valuable specimens "of curious workmanship, not elsewhere preserved, "in an article which our magnificent ancestors "carried to a most superb and sumptuous ex❝cess b." Although, after the Restoration, New Inn Hall again became a place of study, yet it gradually declined; and at length, as we have seen, became completely disused. b Warton's Life of Sir Thomas Pope. One of the late Principals was the celebrated Blackstone. 7818 |