4c. Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York, England

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A very beautiful and famous timber framed building in York,

with a considerable history attached to its name,

particularly as York was a member of the trading organisation known as the Hanseatic League

Coat of Arms in Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York

The Merchant Adventurer's Hall in Fossgate was founded in 1357 as a religious institution, the Guild of Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin and then early in the 15th century became the Merchant Adventurers' Company of the City of York whose operating license was granted by King Edward III.

The external timber framed architecture of the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York

The building consists of an Undercroft of brick walls, the timbered frame of the Great Hall and the Chapel.

The entrance is round the back!

Upper left - the Great Hall (the largest timber-framed building in York), lower right - the Undercroft and on the right the Chapel which was rebuilt in 1411 which has a fine Perpendicular east window of five lights. In its time the Merchant Adventurers' Company was one of the most powerful trading organisations in York, a member of the Hanseatic League.

 The all stone Chapel of Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York

Wax seals in Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York

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An old beautifully leather bound chest in the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York

The amazing timber vaulting of the main hall in the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York

Note the wooden pillars support thick curved beams mimicking the Gothic arches of the medieval stone masons in the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York

Details of the beam construction in the main hall in the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York

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An early painting of the River Foss? near the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York

Some of the painting exhibits in the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York

Beautifully carved furniture in the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York

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Russian icon painting, showing the Hanseatic League connection of trade with Russia, in the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York

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More finely carved furniture in the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York

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Stained glass window panels depicting the warehouses, quays and trading boats of York in the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York

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The undercroft of the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York, now that's what you call a supporting structure of the ground floor in the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York, massive beams of carved wood, amazing! no stones used!

The undercroft of the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York is used for art exhibition venue as well as all sorts of events from weddings to concerts!

The Chantry Chapel of the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York

Carving in the Chapel of the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York

The Chantry Chapel of the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York

The stained glass windows in the chantry chapel of the Merchant Adventurer's Hall, York

A nautical clock

Depiction of artisans

The Port and City of York was a member of the Hanseatic League

The Hanseatic League was a commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds (e.g. those of York) and their market towns (e.g. York) that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe. It stretched from the Baltic to the North Sea and inland from the Late Middle Ages of the 13th century to the relatively modern era of the 17th century. The Hanseatic League was created to protect economic interests and diplomatic privileges in cities like York along the trade routes the merchants used. The Hanseatic League cities had their own legal system and their own armies for mutual protection and aid. The Hanseatic League organization was not a city-state, not even a confederation of city-states; because only a very small number of the cities like York within the Hanseatic league enjoyed autonomy and liberties comparable to those of a free imperial city.

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