Merchant Adventurers’ Hall

These Committee meetings seem to last an eternity…

This room is known as the Governor's Parlour and despite its apparent age is in fact less than 100 years old - it was built in 1948-9. Apart from the collections of furniture, paintings and silver on display in this room; there is also a Tudor fire surround which has a very interesting history.

Here's the story of the mantelpiece which we first talked about nearly two years ago. 👇

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall@merchantshallyork.org

Day 16 of our #adventcalender is a little story. Are you sitting comfortably? This is a story of a fireplace and a Merchant Adventurer; with Marks and Spencer, Hamburg and a dispute over a red robe thrown in for good measure. Ready? Then we will begin. Image: Heritage England Archive

22h

Uh oh the ghosts are back…

21h

This is our Georgian court stand. Called as such as it was once used at the Assizes in York before it was replaced by the current crown court in 1777. Last week we investigated behind it for the first time in at least 20 years…

21h

This is the view behind. You have original medieval timber frame to the left and the wooden structure of the 18th century court stand to your right.

May the happy bats bring you much joy this weekend. Oh and for those who’ve not seen it, there’s a post below with many more of our flying friends. 🦇 👇

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall@merchantshallyork.org

As Halloween is round the corner we thought we’d share some medieval bats. A thread… 🧵 🦇

Good morning to all our new followers and to our old chums alike. When we are not sharing pictures of medieval bats we are sharing pictures of our medieval roof. This is the Merchant Adventurers' Hall - built in 1357 and still looking fabulous 669 years later. 😘

We get asked quite a bit whether the Hall is haunted. We can neither confirm or deny.

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall reposted

Mairi-Claire Kilbride

@mairiclaire.bsky.social

"Thank you, I got them in the sale, AND there are pockets" bat

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall@merchantshallyork.org

Majestic indifferent bat.

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall reposted

As Halloween is round the corner we thought we’d share some medieval bats. A thread… 🧵 🦇

As Halloween is round the corner we thought we’d share some medieval bats. A thread… 🧵 🦇

Cute bat.

Best bat. 🖤

As Halloween is round the corner we thought we’d share some medieval bats. A thread… 🧵 🦇

Angry bat.

Majestic indifferent bat.

As Halloween is round the corner we thought we’d share some medieval bats. A thread… 🧵 🦇

Bat twins.

King bat.

As Halloween is round the corner we thought we’d share some medieval bats. A thread… 🧵 🦇

Golden hairy bat.

Today we have been investigating our 18th century court stand. It was placed here some time in the 19th century and we’ve had the floor up to check its structure. Here’s some things we’ve found…

A broken roof slate.

Yes we were disappointed too. No receipts, no playing cards, no clay pipes, no pots of gold. Yes, even buildings as amazing as ours can be quite mundane too!

A cigarette butt.

A quite old iron nail.

A small yellow chewed pencil.

On Tuesdays we play our man's head/swan harp.

The chairs were given to the Merchant Adventurers in the 1990's but as you can see they are rather large and very grand and we just don't have the space. So they are now on long term loan. They have gone home.. ...to York Minster!

They have even had Royal bottoms sitting on them. King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited York Minster for the traditional Maundy Service in 2023 with the chairs being front and centre.

On Tuesdays we play our man's head/swan harp.

But first some history... On 20 May 1840 a fire began after a candle was left burning in the central tower by William Groves, a clockmaker from Leeds who had been called in to carry out repairs. The fire destroyed the belfry in the South West Tower and the Nave roof and vaulting.

The fire would severely affect York Minster's finances - only recovering fully 25 years after. Here is the other chair showing the cross keys of St Peter (the Minster is officially the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter in York)

On Tuesdays we play our man's head/swan harp.

This unusual feature is from a carved oak chair made in the 19th century. However what makes this chair unique is that it is made of oak recovered from the fire at York Minster in 1840. What makes it even more uniquer (yes that's a word) is that it is a pair...

Would you like to see something reet Yorkshire? Nooo...not Sean Bean. We have this lovely 'back-stool' dating to the mid 17th century. By the 1650's these were replacing stools for dining in more affluent homes. So it's a stool with a back, a back-stool, or as we like to call it....a chair.

Here's another example which is a little later and dates to the late 17th century. Are they comfy you ask? No we say (although nothing a cushion wouldn't fix).

We also have a pair of 'modern' back stools. These were made in the 19th century replicating older chairs. These have been in the chapel for much of their life as you can see in the photo on the left from the 1950s and those on the right today (with new upholstery).

An autumn morning at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall. The Tudor extension built in 1601 has seen a number of these crisp sunny mornings. 🧡

Warning - NSFW content. Look at this bit of wall porn. Check out the frame on that. 😘

Our chapel dates to 1411 but has several newer additions including: the 16th century panelling, 17th century pews, 19th and 20th century windows. A little like Trigger’s broom but still as special as the day it was built.

It turns out a 🍆 harvest is too rude for bluesky censors. However have no fear here are two naked people jousting on giant snails instead.

Before and after: Merchant Adventurers’ Hall edition. These spaces are known as the first ante rooms and date to 1601. They were used by Hall staff and their families although the top photo was taken when they were for display. Although you will just be able to spot a tester bed in the back room.

Today’s challenge is to find a right angle in the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall chapel. Taken in the 1930s this photo shows the 17th century pews and pulpit delightfully on the wonk.

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall reposted

My liege, we are off hunting. Have you brought your falcon? Nay for I have brought my snail.

My liege, we are off hunting. Have you brought your falcon? Nay for I have brought my snail.

In 1601 the Merchant Adventurers built an extension to their medieval Hall. All we can say is that it beats a conservatory…

Medieval guild hall + autumn = Phwoar! 👀 🧡

We have something old and interesting to show you today. This is the Geneva Bible or Breeches Bible. It dates to 1607!

It was known as the Breeches Bible because it describes Adam and Eve as having ‘breeches’ to cover their nakedness. Our version has a young lady called Eliza Burnall practicing her signature!

The Bible because of its forceful language was not popular with the authorities and James I commissioned a new “Authorised Version” in 1604 (published in 1611). We still use this as Merchant Adventurers swear on this when becoming a Member of the Company.

We have something old and interesting to show you today. This is the Geneva Bible or Breeches Bible. It dates to 1607!

The Geneva Bible was first published in 1560 and as you might have guessed, first printed in Geneva. It was written with annotations by Protestant reformers: John Calvin, John Knox and Theodore In Scotland a law was passed in 1579 requiring every household to possess a copy.