Merchant Adventurers' Hall Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Merchant Adventurers' Hall
Medieval timber frame of the great hall interior
General information
Type	Medieval Guildhall
Location	York, England
Coordinates	53°57′28″N 1°04′44″W / 53.9579°N 1.0788°W / 53.9579; -1.0788
Construction started	1357
Owner	The Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York

Listed Building – Grade I
Official name	Merchant Adventurers Hall
Designated	14 June 1954
Reference no.	1257828

Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name	Gatehouse to Merchant Adventurers Hall
Designated	14 June 1954
Reference no.	1257822

The Merchant Adventurers' Hall is a very old and important building in York, England. It's a special kind of medieval guildhall. This means it was a meeting place for a group of powerful business people. Today, it's a protected building because of its history and unique style.

A Journey Through Time
Gallery
See also

A Journey Through Time

The medieval Merchant Adventurers' Hall seen from Piccadilly. On the right is the brick chapel; on the left the timber-frame construction of the upper storey can be seen.

Most of the Hall was built in 1357. It was created by a group of important men and women. They formed a religious group called the Guild of Our Lord Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In 1371, a hospital was opened in the lower part of the building, called the undercroft. This hospital helped the poor people of York. Later, in 1430, King Henry VI gave the group a special royal charter. This changed their name to 'The Mistry of Mercers'.

The group became even more important in 1581. Queen Elizabeth I gave them the title 'The Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York'. The main parts of this amazing building are the Great Hall, the chapel, and the undercroft.

The Great Hall: A Timber Masterpiece

The Great Hall is built using a special method called timber-framing. It took five years to build this part of the Hall. It is the largest timber-framed building in the UK still used for its original purpose.

The roof of the hall has two sections. These are held up by a row of huge wooden posts in the middle. The roof also uses complex crown posts. Everything is held together with wooden pegs, not nails!

The Undercroft and Chapel

The undercroft, like the Great Hall, is divided into two parts by supporting timber posts. This area also leads to a chapel. The chapel was built for the sick and poor people in the hospital. It was also used by the members of the Merchant Adventurers' Guild. People still use this chapel for worship today.

The Company Today

The Hall still belongs to and is used by The Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York. While they no longer focus on trading goods, they are still active in York. They now work as a charitable group.

The Company has many old records. Some documents date back to the 13th century. Their financial records go back to 1432. The Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York has copies of many of these old papers. These include deeds, accounts, and meeting minutes from 1677 to 1985.

From 1918, a historian named Maud Sellers helped look after the Company's historical items. She was very interested in the Hall. She helped with its restoration and study from 1895.

Art in the Hall

The Hall also displays some interesting artworks. There is a painting by Jan Griffier called "Dutch snow scene with skaters." You can also see a painting by Joseph Farington showing the Old Ouse Bridge in York. Another painting is a portrait by William Etty of his brother, John Etty.

The Merchant Adventurers' Hall is close to another old guildhall in York. This is the Merchant Taylors' Hall. However, the Merchant Adventurers' Hall is in a more original condition.