024 - York has an amazing array of interesting old buildings. This Merchant Adventurer's Hall is in a secluded spot in the city centre. It is a medieval guildhall and was one of the most important buildings in the medieval city.
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 1430 the fraternity was granted a royal charter by King Henry VI and renamed 'The Mistry of Mercers'. It was granted the status of the Company of Merchant Adventurers of York by Queen Elizabeth I in the sixteenth century. The main part of the building consists of the Great Hall and the undercroft, which was originally a hospital or almshouse for poor people of York.
The Great Hall is a 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.
The undercroft, like the Great Hall, is divided in two by its supporting row of timber posts. The undercroft also provides 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.
As you can see, I've managed to keep the blue sky theme going for another day!
It's a fabulous building Louise! In January during the Residents Festival, I went inside for a look round and to take some photos. It was the first time I'd been in there for about 10-15 years. I'd forgotten just how impressive the interior was, as well as the exterior. It's amazing just how many fine buildings York has, and as a resident I rarely visit many of them.
Thank you, but I did have to check the name of the building with my wife, since I get the Merchant Adventurers and Merchant Taylors mixed up! Perhaps I'll have a walk past the Merchant Taylors soon.
April 1st, 2012
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It's a fabulous building Louise! In January during the Residents Festival, I went inside for a look round and to take some photos. It was the first time I'd been in there for about 10-15 years. I'd forgotten just how impressive the interior was, as well as the exterior. It's amazing just how many fine buildings York has, and as a resident I rarely visit many of them.
Thank you, but I did have to check the name of the building with my wife, since I get the Merchant Adventurers and Merchant Taylors mixed up! Perhaps I'll have a walk past the Merchant Taylors soon.