Thomas Tullie (1658–76): The Principalship of Thomas Tullie was seen as somewhat of a golden age for the Hall, with it expanding both in terms of students and buildings after the hardships and repercussions of Oxford’s support for King Charles I during the Civil War.

Tullie began construction of the Old Dining Hall, contributing £200 of his own money. It is possible to consider Tullie as the first fundraiser for the Hall, as he initiated a programme whereby graduating students left £5 to the Hall, funding the expansion of the library. In today’s money this would equate to a gift of £320 from each Aularian. It seems fitting, therefore, that our regular giving society bears his name.

Stephen Penton (1676–84): Penton followed Tullie and was a similarly enterprising, if overly experimental, Principal. Under his leadership the Hall continued its fundraising activities, constructing the Chapel and what is now the Old Library. Donations amounted to £366 5s, with individual donations ranging from £1 to £40.

Edward Moore (1864–1913): Moore enjoyed a long and successful Principalship at the Hall, and was fundamental in ensuring its survival to this day. Under Moore, the reputation of the Hall as a home of “true religion and sound learning” was greatly increased, Hall numbers more than doubled, and it was represented in almost every honours list.

The University Commission of 1877 prepared a new scheme for St Edmund Hall, which would have brought it under the control of Queen’s College and ended its separate existence, to take effect on the retirement or death of the existing head. Moore made it his object to defeat this scheme. In 1903, on Moore being nominated to a canonry at Canterbury, J. R. Magrath, the provost of Queen’s, carried through the University’s hebdomadal council a statute which would have resulted in the planned absorption of the Hall. Moore successfully opposed the statute in Congregation, and, retaining the headship with the sanction of Prime Minister A. J. Balfour, set himself to preserve the independence of the Hall. After a prolonged struggle, a statute was passed in 1913 preserving St Edmund Hall as an independent institution – at last Moore felt able to resign, having secured the future of the Hall.