Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
LightNews LightNews
banner
merchantshallyork.org
Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
@merchantshallyork.org
13K followers 590 following 4.2K posts
Discover one of the finest medieval guildhalls in the world. Home to York’s entrepreneurs for 660 years and counting.

Website: merchantshallyork.org
Posts Replies Media Videos
merchantshallyork.org
Right 2025 you’ve been interesting.

2026 - let’s be better.

Happy New Year friends - thanks for sharing, liking and generally putting up with our shenanigans! ❤️
We are looking at the Great Hall with its large oak framed roof and pine and pitch pine floor.
December 31, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Reposted by Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
romanpalace.bsky.social
Here are the New Year's resolutions we plan to break in the next week or so:

Be nicer to #CuratorRob 🙄
Post about Fishbourne Roman Palace from time to time 🫡
Fewer typos 😳
Get over the whole "Villa" thing 🧐
Get engaged (we're looking at you, Merchy) 😍
December 31, 2025 at 10:36 AM
merchantshallyork.org
An edited list of food for a feast at the Hall in 1448: 21 capons, 72 fowls, 6 suckling pigs, 12 rabbits, 6 herons, 2½oz of saffron, 10oz white sugar.

To drink: 170 pints of wine and 416 pints of ale.

Standard week between Christmas and New Year if you ask us…
We are looking at a timber framed hall on a sunny winter day. The sun is low in the sky casting long shadows in the garden. The brick and yellow plaster work glows in the morning sunshine.
December 30, 2025 at 11:01 AM
merchantshallyork.org
Update:

We have been full for approximately 96 hours.

However we still think we have room for an orange matchmaker.
a baby seal is sleeping on a piece of ice next to another seal .
ALT: a baby seal is sleeping on a piece of ice next to another seal .
media.tenor.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:18 AM
merchantshallyork.org
Well look at that, it’s Christmas Eve and the last day of our advent calendar.

Therefore we had to finish with some Christmas tree/Great Hall roof action!

1/2
We are looking at a section of the Great Hall - replete with 17ft Christmas tree. It is dark and the light from the tree illuminates the oak framed walls and roof.
December 24, 2025 at 8:08 AM
merchantshallyork.org
Happy Christmas Eve Eve! It’s Day 23 of our advent calendar and we’re delving into our minute books for a strange Christmas excerpt:

“26th December 1804: Humane Society have permission to use any part of the Hall for the purpose of receiving objects and keeping them in suspended animation”.

1/2
We are looking at two oak doors on a timber framed building. A large Christmas wreath sits in the middle of the doors illuminated by the lantern above. There is a large red number 23 over the top.
December 23, 2025 at 8:15 AM
merchantshallyork.org
Day 22 and for some of you the Christmas holidays have started! What are you up to?

These folk in this 1695 painting by Jan Griffier the Elder are taking advantage of the cold and are doing some skating and sledding on a icy Dutch canal.

If we did this on the Ouse now it would end badly...

1/2
We are looking at an oil painting of a lively winter scene in a Dutch town. In the foreground figures skate on the frozen river and a finely caparisoned horse draws a sleigh full of children. A church with a spire can be made out to the left of centre, and a windmill can just be made out in the distance.
December 22, 2025 at 11:38 AM
merchantshallyork.org
It has felt particularly gloomy today (thank goodness for Christmas lights).

However it’s the shortest day of the year so light nights are on their way back.

Happy Winter Solstice everyone!
We are looking at a section of the Great Hall’s oak framed roof. To one side is a large illuminated Christmas tree covered in red and gold baubles.
December 21, 2025 at 4:04 PM
merchantshallyork.org
It’s Day 21 of our advent calendar and the fourth Sunday before advent so we wanted to share this festive photo of the Chapel on a sunny winter’s day.

However in recent memory the Chapel hasn’t always been warm and dry…

1/2
We are looking at a photo of a medieval oak screen with a central open gateway. Beyond are the green box pews and chapel chairs. The sun shines brightly through the stained glass windows creating a shaft of bright light across the brick floor of the chapel and the stone flag floor of the Undercroft.
December 21, 2025 at 9:02 AM
merchantshallyork.org
Strutting into Saturday like it’s the last weekend before Christmas…

Yes it’s Day 20 of our advent calendar and we’re looking at the Pegasuses/Pegasi/Pegsicles (okay we made up the last one) that feature on the Merchant Adventurers’ Coat of Arms.

1/2
We are looking at a painted and carved stone Coat of Arms with a shield in the centre featuring blue wavy lines, gold lions and red roses. On either side supporting the shield is a white Pegasus. They are wearing cartoon party hats with a red ‘20’ over the top.
December 20, 2025 at 8:35 AM
merchantshallyork.org
It's Day 19 of our advent calendar and we remember helium balloons of unicorns that are no longer with us.

*Cue solemn festive music*

For those of you who are wondering what on earth we are gibbering on about, we are celebrating our one and only time we went viral (on the other place)...

1/2
We are looking at a section of the Great Hall's roof - the timber framing stretches up to where there is a helium balloon in the shape of a Unicorn's head. The unicorn has a multi coloured mane and a slightly smug look on its face.
December 19, 2025 at 10:06 AM
merchantshallyork.org
It's a week until Christmas everyone!

Therefore we think it's quite the achievement that it's taken us until Day 18 of our advent calendar to feature the Hall in snow.

We think you'll agree that the Hall does look gorgeous in a winter wonderland.

1/2
We are looking at a timber framed Hall in snow. The sky is a light blue and the watery sun is glowing on the yellow plasterwork. The garden and the roofs are covered in snow. There is a large red '18' over the top.
December 18, 2025 at 11:02 AM
merchantshallyork.org
We’ve been waiting for this post all year! 😍
orkneylibrary.bsky.social Orkney Library & Archive @orkneylibrary.bsky.social · 15d
You've heard of Elf on the Shelf but how about
A book about Dolly Parton on a blue book trolley. It's Dolly on a trolley.
December 17, 2025 at 8:19 PM
merchantshallyork.org
Roses are red,
violets are blue,
it's day 17 of our advent calendar,
so this love heart is for you. ❤️

There are many little details carved by those who have worked on the Hall. Are they permanent reminders of their skill or a demonstration of love for their craft? Or a bit of both?

1/2
We are looking at a close up of a door frame that shows an oak finial carved with a large love heart.
December 17, 2025 at 12:15 PM
merchantshallyork.org
Good morning from York and its majestic sky!
We are looking at the river Ouse which is slightly high and over spilling its banks. The sky is a blaze of red, orange, coral pink, lilac and blue, it reflects onto the river whilst the buildings on the banks are silhouetted against the sky.
December 17, 2025 at 8:12 AM
merchantshallyork.org
Carols drifting up from the Undercroft into the Great Hall.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. 🎄
December 16, 2025 at 7:33 PM
merchantshallyork.org
On 16th December 1356, "Sir William Percehay, knight, grants to John Freeboys, John Crome, and Robert Smeton, citizens and merchants, York, all that piece of ground with the buildings, etc in Fossgate"

The deed for the land on which the Hall is built was conveyed on this day 669 years ago! 🤯

1/2
We are looking at a document written in Latin with a small wax seal affixed to the bottom.
December 16, 2025 at 9:36 AM
merchantshallyork.org
Today's star of the show for Day 15 of our advent calendar is the most medieval of medieval things.

Yes our Evidence Chest. Bought second hand in 1488 this oak chest kept all the important documents belonging to the Merchant Adventurers.

That's 668 years of history... 🤯
We are looking at a long narrow oak chest bound in iron horizontally at the corners and vertically across the main body of the chest. It has three hasps on the hinged lid and two iron handles with round terminals. A large red '15' is superimposed over the top.
December 15, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Reposted by Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
maryrosemuseum.bsky.social
The Mary Rose saw 33 Christmases during her career as a warship, but how would her crew have celebrated the festive season?

Did they get to go home, or spend the season at sea? Find out in our blog - maryrose.org/christmas-on...
Christmas on the Mary Rose - Mary Rose
The Mary Rose saw 33 Christmases during her career as a warship, so how did her crew celebrate the festive season?
maryrose.org
December 15, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Reposted by Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
merchantshallyork.org
When you have the plague but you want to keep it festive…
We are looking at black front door with a red diagonal cross in red ribbon. Over the top is a Christmas wreath.
December 14, 2025 at 2:44 PM
merchantshallyork.org
When you have the plague but you want to keep it festive…
We are looking at black front door with a red diagonal cross in red ribbon. Over the top is a Christmas wreath.
December 14, 2025 at 2:44 PM
merchantshallyork.org
Day 14 of our advent calendar and we are looking back to 2020 when we all did things a little differently.

Instead of a large Christmas tree we had a small/semi portable one which traversed around the Hall…

1/2
We are looking at our Chapel from close to its altar rail. To one side is a Christmas tree illuminating the red damask altar cloth and gilt candlesticks. The large five mullion window glitters with light from inside and outside.
December 14, 2025 at 8:45 AM
merchantshallyork.org
We hear people say, “That Merchant Adventurers’ Hall is nothing more than a jaw droppingly gorgeous timber framed roof”.

We say to those people, “What more do you want?!”

Day 13 of our advent calendar and we’re looking at the Court Room…

1/2
We are looking at the Great Hall - a large room with a medieval oak framed roof that soars upwards to the heavens. Okay that’s perhaps too much hyperbole but it is impressive. It is a sunny bright day and light floods through the Georgian sash windows and casts puddles of light on the pine floors. In the distance is a Georgian court stand in a bright pear green colour.
December 13, 2025 at 8:33 AM
merchantshallyork.org
Occasionally when we’re not being ace as a medieval guild hall we are brilliant at something completely different.

Day 12 of our advent calendar and it’s Lights, Camera, Action!

This is the time that TV’s Victoria came to film in York…

1/2
We are looking at a large room with a timber framed roof. Lots of people mill in the foreground with a large camera on a pedestal is in the centre. In the background is a top table and then two rows of tables with actors in 19th century costume. Over the top is a large red number 12.
December 12, 2025 at 8:01 AM
merchantshallyork.org
Day 11 of our Advent Calendar and we want to introduce Dr Maud Sellers.

Historian, archivist, author, traveller, curator and the first female Merchant Adventurer in 400 years when she became a Member in 1913.

Here she is in a postcard from December 1912 on the steps of "My Merchants' Hall".

1/2
We are looking at a black and white photo of a middle aged woman wearing a long jacket, skirt with a fur around her neck and an elaborate hat standing on the steps of a somewhat dilapidated building.
December 11, 2025 at 10:48 AM