The Merchant Adventurer's Hall

Built between 1357 and 1361, the Merchant Adventurers` Hall is an
outstanding example of a medieval guildhall and one of the best
preserved in Britain. The building, added to and renovated at later
dates, comprises of a great hall where guild members met for social
and business occasions, an undercroft which served as a charity
hospital and the chapel where members worshipped.

Medieval guilds, like the Merchant Adventurers, whose trading ships
journeyed as far as Russia and the Middle East, were vital to the
lifeblood of any medieval city. They were an association of
businessmen employed in the same trade. They regulated prices,
trained apprentices, looked after sick or out-of-work members, and
provided charity for the poor.

The Great Room is still in it`s original state, with one or two
exceptions. The sash windows were inserted about 1720, but one of
the early windows can still be seen over the servery. The fireplace
was built in the late 16th century, earlier there were probably
charcoal braziers. The panelling and Governor`s Stall date from the
Elizabethan and Georgian periods.

It was in the undercroft that the poor were cared for until around
1900. The undercroft`s walls are made of brick, the oldest known
use of brick in York since the Romans left 1000 years earlier. The
chapel may be found at the far end of the undercroft. It was
rebuilt in 1411 in both stone and brick. It is believed that many
of the stones came from a building in the Norman period.

The present furnishings of the chapel date from 1661 and, prior to
the Reformation, the chapel was richly decorated with stained glass
windows, beautiful cloths on it`s five altars and magnificently
carved images.