Merchant Adventurers' Hall, York

This guildhall in the city of York 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. The main part of the building consists of the Great Hall, the Undercroft and the Chapel.

The Great Hall is where is where the medieval merchants first gathered to conduct their business and to socialize. 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. It includes complex crown posts and is held together by wooden pegs.

The Undercroft was was originally a hospital or almshouse for poor people of York. Like the Great Hall, the Undercroft is divided in two by its supporting row of timber posts. The undercroft also provides access to an attached chapel.

The Chapel was build for the spiritual use of the ill and poor in the hospital as well as the members of the the Merchant Adventurers' Guild. It is still used for worship today.

Merchant Adventurers' Hall is one of the best preserved medieval guildhalls in the world and is well worth being included on your York itinerary.