New Photo Portrait of First Female Governor
The Merchant Adventurers' Hall celebrates its first Woman Governor with a specially commissioned photo portrait In 2022, the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall appointed Dr Delma Tomlin, DUniv, MBE as its Governor, the first woman in the role since its foundation in...
New Digital Guide Launched
Explore the Hall in a new way with our new digital guide! Launching this Easter, our new guide features the Hall's captivating 667 years of history to enrich both onsite and offside visits. This Easter, the Hall has launched a new, digital guide on Bloomberg...
A new 21st century home for our historic archive
In 2023, the Company of Merchant Adventurers and the Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York entered into a partnership where the Company's archive; one of the oldest and most significant collections of documents in the city would move from the Hall...
Art Unlocked: Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
On Wednesday 27th September we explored the history of York in 6 paintings! We heard from Lauren Marshall, Director of the Merchant Adventurers' Hall who told us about which building in York had Yorkshire's first public toilets and other fascinating stories; through...
A Royal Connection – Blog Three
In celebration of the Coronation of King Charles III, we are delving into the past to discover some of the treasures in the Hall’s collections made in the lifetimes of King Charles I, King Charles II and King Charles III. We will also explore how these momentous and...
A Royal Connection – Blog Two
In celebration of the Coronation of King Charles III, we are delving into the past to discover some of the treasures in the Hall’s collections made in the lifetimes of King Charles I, King Charles II and King Charles III. We will also explore how these momentous and...
A Royal Connection – Blog One
In celebration of the Coronation of King Charles III, we are delving into the past to discover some of the treasures in the Hall’s collections made in the lifetimes of King Charles I, King Charles II and King Charles III. We will also explore how these momentous and...
Museums are good for you!
We are certain that for most of you, this information doesn't come as a surprise but we now have a fantastic study to back it up; visiting the Merchant Adventurers' Hall is good for your health! The study, conducted in early 2022 by Amy Luck and Dr Faye Sayer...
The Elizabethans – Blog Four
This post was published in June 2022. In celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen, we are delving into the past to meet some of the Merchant Adventurers making waves during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth II and her namesake, Queen Elizabeth I. From...
The Elizabethans – Blog Three
This post was published in June 2022. In celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen, we are delving into the past to meet some of the Merchant Adventurers making waves during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth II and her namesake, Queen Elizabeth I. From...
The Elizabethans – Blog Two
This post was published in June 2022. In celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen, we are delving into the past to meet some of the Merchant Adventurers making waves during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth II and her namesake, Queen Elizabeth I. From...
The Elizabethans – Blog One
This post was published in June 2022. In celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen, we are delving into the past to meet some of the Merchant Adventurers making waves during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth II and her namesake, Queen Elizabeth I. From...
Hall Highlights: Napoleon
The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall has accumulated many treasures over the centuries: art, artefacts, architecture and the stories of those who have passed through its walls. This series seeks to shine a spotlight on the Hall’s incredible collections. Carved out of...
Hall Highlights: The Minute Books
The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall has accumulated many treasures over the centuries: art, artefacts, architecture and the stories of those who have passed through its walls. This series seeks to shine a spotlight on the Hall’s incredible collections. The...
Hall Highlights: The Loving Cup Ceremony
Within the silver collection of the Merchant Adventurers' Hall are a number of large silver cups which are known as 'Loving Cups'. These are used yearly at the Merchant Adventurers' Venison Feast within a ceremony which is a symbol of friendship and fraternity....
Hall Highlights: Stained Glass
For this blog post we are looking the stained glass windows which can be found in the Undercroft, Chapel and the Governor's Parlour of the Merchant Adventurers' Hall. The Hall has a small but beautiful collection of stained glass windows dating from the last 150...
Hall Highlights: Female Merchants
It is perhaps a surprise to many to find out that women have played an active role in The Company of Merchant Adventurers since its foundation in 1357. There are three in particular who lived remarkable lives and feature in the extensive archive of the Guild. ...
Hall Highlights: Going underground…the history of the Undercroft
For this blog post we are looking at the Undercroft...a space very different from the grand surroundings of the Great Hall. This space was never designed to be used by the merchants but for the sick and poorer member of York's society, many of which had fallen on hard...
Merchant Adventurers’ Hall…this is your life (Part Two)
When you're over 660 years old you've witnessed quite a bit of history. So here below is the second part of our list of some of the important dates in the Merchant Adventurers' Hall history. As well as a few choice snippets from further afield... 1626 St...
Merchant Adventurers Hall….this is your life! (Part One)
When you're over 660 years old you've witnessed quite a bit of history. So here below is a list of some of the important dates in the Merchant Adventurers history. As well as a few choice snippets from further afield... 1357 Construction begins on the...
Hall Highlights: The Banners
The Merchant Adventurers' Hall has accumulated many treasures over the centuries: art, artefacts, architecture and the stories of those who have passed through its walls. This series seeks to shine a spotlight on the Hall's incredible collections. Part of what...
A Medieval mystery: The Percys or Percehays?
In 1356 Sir William Percy granted a plot of land - a former Norman manorial site by the River Foss, and the future location of the Merchant Adventurers' Hall - to three merchants from York...or did he? In this new, thoroughly researched book, David Brewer...
Hall Highlights: Dr Maud Sellers
The Merchant Adventurers' Hall has accumulated many treasures over the centuries: art, artefacts, architecture and the stories of those who have passed through it's walls. This blog series seeks to shine a spotlight on the Hall's incredible collections and individuals...
Hall Highlights: The Pancake Bell
The Merchant Adventurers' Hall has accumulated many treasures over the centuries: art, artefacts, architecture and the stories of those who have passed through it's walls. This blog series seeks to shine a spotlight on some of the Hall's incredible collections. In...
Blog: An unwanted Christmas present – The 2015 Boxing Day floods
On Boxing Day 2015, the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall in York flooded – its proximity to the River Foss leading to the 14th century Guildhall to be deluged with over a metre of water. This is the story of the flood and the Hall’s recovery. The Merchant...