The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, York

The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall in York is the largest timber-framed building in the UK still standing and used for its original purpose.

Constructed around 1357, it's one of the best preserved medieval guildhalls in Europe.

The majority of the Hall was built in 1357 by a group of influential men and women who came together to form a religious fraternity called the Guild of Our Lord Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In 1371, a hospital was established in the undercroft for the poor people of York and, in 1430, the fraternity was granted a royal charter by King Henry VI and renamed 'The Mistry of Mercers'.

It was later granted the status of the Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York by Queen Elizabeth i in 1581.

The undercroft provided access to an attached chapel, built for the use of the ill and poor in the hospital as well as the members of the Merchant Adventurers' Guild.

The walls of the undercroft are made of brick, one of the earliest examples of brickwork in York - at the far end is the chapel, rebuilt in 1411 in both brick and stone.

The floor level of the Undercroft has been raised by nearly 1.5 metres to protect it from flooding.

The frame of the arch leading into the Chapel shows marks indicating the height reached by floodwaters over the years.

Against the far wall of the Undercroft, a plate of glass set into the floor lets visitors look down to the original floor level.

The Great Hall, meanwhile, is a beautiful timber-framed structure and was built over a five-year period.

It is the largest timber-framed building in the UK still standing and used for its original purpose.

The roof of the hall is of two spans supported by a row of large central timber posts - and it includes complex crown posts and is held together by wooden pegs.

The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall is home to many remarkable collections.

These include original furniture and paintings, which provide a glimpse into the rich history of the Hall and the people associated with it.

A portrait of a Queen sits next to one of a Lord Mayor whilst a Medieval ‘Evidence Chest’ is older than the Hall itself. 

The Hall also remains the everyday base for the 160 members of the Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York.

A Merchant Adventurer was someone who risked or ‘adventured’ his or her own money in overseas trade bringing back goods and wealth to York.

They invite visitors to discover the secrets of this unique guild hall and its 660 years of history.

One recent visitor, wrote reviewed the hall on TripAdvisor, said: “This building is stunning to look around. There is plenty of information about the history.

”The hall upstairs is breathtaking with its bowed floors. We even had a bit of fun tying on hats and posing in the picture frame.

”Most importantly it has excellent disabled access including a lift which meant I could have a good look around.”

Another person added: “Even amongst all the history of York this is an impressive building.

”There are parts of the building exposed going back to the 14th Century, as well as collections built up by the guilds over that time, mainly silver, much of it made in York.

”It’s worth walking around the outside to see its precarious position in relation to the river. There is also a nice cafe in the entrance with outside seating available to everyone, its a nice quiet spot for York.

”The cafe had gluten free cake available, but really needs to have it properly labelled on the counter.”

Tickets can be purchased in advance via their official website, it’s around £7 for an adult ticket.

The main entrance on Piccadilly (opposite the Coppergate Centre) has steps down into the gardens.

The address is: Fossgate, York, Yorkshire, England, YO1 9XD.

Check out more photos below, courtesy of Merchant Adventurers' Hall:

It is a short walk from this hall to the Merchant Taylor’s Hall in York, another medieval guildhall but in less original condition.

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