Hertford College was founded in 1740 on the site of Hart Hall, which was in turn founded in 1283 by Elias de Hertford, but was then sold in 1820 to the owners of Magdalen Hall. This ceased to exist in 1874 and Hertford College was revived, after a very substantial benefaction by Thomas Baring MP. It is composed of three main quadrangles, Old Buildings, New Buildings and Holywell Quads. The majority of the architecture now dates from the late-19th and early-20th centuries and is by Sir Thomas Jackson whose designs include the Hertford Bridge which links Old and New Buildings.

Inside the Old Buildings Jackson’s new Hall was placed over the entrance lodge, between the two existing 19th century classical blocks. It is lit by large Venetian windows and is reached by a spiral staircase modelled on the one at the French Renaissance chateau at Blois