Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
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merchantshallyork.org
Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
@merchantshallyork.org
13K followers 460 following 4.7K posts
Discover one of the finest medieval guildhalls in the world. Home to York’s entrepreneurs for 660 years and counting.

Website: merchantshallyork.org
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Reposted by Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
medievalfoodjennie.bsky.social
Peel, boil and slice turnips, layer them with cheese, butter and a mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and a lot of black pepper, at least two layers of everything, top with grated cheese, bake in the oven. 'Garnished turnips' from a 15th century Neapolitan collection. It's amazing! 🤍💜 turnip love 💜🤍
February 15, 2026 at 7:24 PM
merchantshallyork.org
And not a turnip in sight.

Just your reminder that medieval food far from being bland could be full of flavour (if you had the dosh).
medievalfoodjennie.bsky.social Medieval Food With Jennie @medievalfoodjennie.bsky.social · 7h
Hennys in Gauncelye - Chicken in a creamy garlic sauce - Harleian MS.279, c.1430. Roast chicken with a sauce made from milk and garlic, thickened with egg yolks and coloured with saffron.
February 15, 2026 at 6:22 PM
merchantshallyork.org
Oh look at that, it’s raining again.

Let’s look at some early daffodils on York’s walls instead.
We are looking at a section of stone wall down from which is a grassy green slope with some hardy daffodils bobbing their heads in the February sunshine.
February 15, 2026 at 8:23 AM
merchantshallyork.org
Blind Date: Merchant Adventurers’ Hall edition!

🧵 ❤️
We are looking at a montage of four oil paintings - one portrait of an 18th century woman and then three portraits of men from the early and late 17th century and one from the early 19th century.
February 14, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Reposted by Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
rspb.bsky.social
Happy Valentine’s Day, from us to you. Tag your exes. Xoxox
Coral background with faint heart illustrations. A glossy male Blackbird with a bright yellow bill faces left. Large title reads: “Birds as bad exes*” Smaller text reads: “*Yes, you read that right.”
February 14, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Reposted by Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
yvbsg.bsky.social
Happy #ValentinesDay! It's time to bring out the annual 'hearts on buildings' again. If you know of more examples, do post them below.
Heart-shaped label stop. Heart on voussoir, Clapham, North Yorkshire. Heart in decorative brickwork, Northern France. Heart embedded in stone wall, Cumbria.
February 14, 2026 at 1:02 PM
merchantshallyork.org
Happy Valentines Day!

Do you know what we love (apart from @romanpalace.bsky.social)?

That yellow ball in the sky. Why hello there sunshine. 💛
We are looking at the Hall on a cold frosty morning. It is sunny! The sky is blue with wispy white clouds. The Hall’s roof is covered in a light coating of frost whilst the early morning sunshine is lighting up the yellow plasterwork of the Hall and the brick of the chapel.
February 14, 2026 at 8:58 AM
merchantshallyork.org
We wonder if we rolled over biscuits whether it would work in the same way? 🤔
weirdmedieval.bsky.social weird medieval guys @weirdmedieval.bsky.social · 2d
It was believed in medieval times that hedgehogs had spikes so they could roll over fruit to carry home to their children, which is not true but is a really cute idea
A medieval illustration of a hedgehog with grapes skewered on its spines
February 13, 2026 at 7:08 PM
merchantshallyork.org
Roses are red,
violets are blue,
we’re not very good at rhyming,
so here are some love hearts from our medieval hall…

…for you. ❤️

Because it's nearly #valentinesday
We are looking at a montage of photos showing objects or parts of the Hall which have love hearts on them.
February 13, 2026 at 9:40 AM
merchantshallyork.org
Looking for something a little saucy for Valentines Day? 😘

Those of a nervous disposition may wish to avert your eyes because this is literally too hot to handle.

An 1804 silver brandy saucepan. Swit. Swoo.
We are looking at silver saucepan with a wooden handle. There are initials engraved on the saucepan with a crown above it.
February 12, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Reposted by Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
romanpalace.bsky.social
It says "Merchant's House Museum". 😮
@merchantshallyork.org have you checked your dressers?
phillewis.bsky.social Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 4d
A dresser inside a museum in New York City has been discovered as a secret stop on the Underground Railroad — the first of its kind discovered in Manhattan in over 100 years
February 11, 2026 at 5:34 PM
merchantshallyork.org
Just a reminder everyone - we will see the sun again.

We don't know when, but we will.

Be strong. 💪
We are looking at the Fossgate entrance to the Hall - the Tudor extension of timber frame and yellow render. The sky is bright blue with not a rain cloud in sight.
February 11, 2026 at 8:48 AM
merchantshallyork.org
The Winter Olympics but in this c1695 Dutch Snowscene by Jan Griffier the Elder...
We are looking at an oil painting depicting 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.
February 10, 2026 at 10:19 AM
merchantshallyork.org
The universe according to bluesky. 😍 ⭐
romanpalace.bsky.social Fishbourne Roman Palace @romanpalace.bsky.social · 6d
Here we are, hanging out with the cool kids. 😎

bluesky-map.theo.io
Hundreds of green dots. They are actually from the recently released "Map of Bluesky", with each dot representing a bluesky account and it's position relating to its relationship with other accounts. @Romanpalace is very close to @merchantshallyork and both are near a cluster labelled British Academic Historians.
February 9, 2026 at 6:30 PM
merchantshallyork.org
In need of a mid morning snacc?!

We’ve got you. 😘
We are looking at the Great Hall which is looking particularly gorgeous in all its oak frame glory. It soars upwards - a forest of king posts and braces.
February 9, 2026 at 10:45 AM
merchantshallyork.org
Never mind the #superbowl this is what we’ve been waiting for. Yes it’s #museumsuperbowl I!

Not everything in our very old Hall is very old. This bowl is a good example:

Made in 2000 this Christening bowl/dish has the Merchant Adventurers prayer and wavy lines representing its seafaring past.
We are looking at a hammered silver bowl or dish with wavy lines and a prayer engraved around the rim. In the centre are silver marks.
February 9, 2026 at 9:14 AM
merchantshallyork.org
Unlike our esteemed Bluesky beau, @romanpalace.bsky.social we do not have a Superb Owl.

We do however have an angry looking bird on a 17th century silver porringer.

Not so #superbowl
We are looking at a silver porringer - a two handled silver bowl with a lid. The body of the vessel is engraved with a mythical bird with long wings, tail feathers and a plume of feathers from its head. It also looks very grumpy.
February 8, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Reposted by Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
romanpalace.bsky.social
It's Superbowl Sunday! So here's our traditional, and predictable Superb Owl.
🏈🦉

#SuperbOwl #SuperbOwl2026
A naive representation of an owl on a small flat slate sheet. The body is depicted in alternating white and dark triangles. Crucially, this owl is not playing American Football.
February 8, 2026 at 2:57 PM
merchantshallyork.org
Sunday greetings!

Here’s a real time view of the Hall, with what you will see is a light grey sky.

This is an improvement from the dark grey sky of yesterday.
We are looking at the Hall - a timber framed and brick built building on a dank and grey morning. Luckily the yellow plaster helps alleviate the bleakness.
February 8, 2026 at 9:37 AM
merchantshallyork.org
We knew we were cool but we have an ice sculpture to prove it! 😉

This is ‘Wings of Ice’ - a Pegasus in frozen form. The Pegasus as you will know is on our Coat of Arms.

This sculpture will be in our garden today and tomorrow as part of York’s Ice Trail!
We are looking at a ice sculpture of a Pegasus - a winged horse rearing up on two legs.
February 7, 2026 at 10:44 AM
Reposted by Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
barnsleymuseums.bsky.social
Would you like to lick our pig?

There's a sentence we never thought we'd use.... Happy Saturday!

bsky.app/profile/barn...
barnsleymuseums.bsky.social Barnsley Museums @barnsleymuseums.bsky.social · 9d
Not quite as old, but this has reminded us of our piggy bank which was made at Wood Brothers Glassworks in Barnsley
February 7, 2026 at 7:58 AM
merchantshallyork.org
Is it wrong that we want to lick this?
alisonfisk.bsky.social Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 9d
A little bear figurine carved out of amber some 6,000 years ago 🐻❤️

A hole runs through the bear’s torso suggesting it was threaded on a cord, perhaps worn or carried as a protective charm.

Found in a peat bog near Słupsk, Poland, in 1887.

📷 National Museum in Szczecin

#FindsFriday
#Archaeology
Photo by G. Solecki/A. Piętak of a small figurine of a bear carved out of amber between 9600 and 4100 BC. The amber is a deep translucent orange. The display lighting makes it glow in places. The bear's head is carved to show ears, mouth, nostrils and eyes. A hole runs through the bear’s torso, suggesting it was threaded onto a cord. Dimensions: Length 10.2 cm, Height 4.2 It was discovered in Słupsk during peat mining in 1887. According to the museum catalogue ‘’Shortly after its discovery, the figure underwent conservation work to restore its original appearance as it was covered with a layer of dull patina from the exposure to the minerals contained in the peat. Already at that time, at the end of the 19th century, it was assumed the restoration had gone too far. The figure was stripped entirely of patina, the anatomical features of the animal were emphasised, the eyes and nostrils were sharply drawn, and the amber was carefully polished”. In 2013, a competition was organised by the Education Department of the National Museum in Szczecin, for children to choose a name for the bear. The winning name was ‘Słupcio’,
February 6, 2026 at 6:42 PM
merchantshallyork.org
This! 👇
adamkoszary.bsky.social Adam Koszary @adamkoszary.bsky.social · 9d
truly forgot how much I love mooching around a museum, dipping into labels, examining a little pot, imagining the life of people 4000 years ago
February 6, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Reposted by Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
barnsleymuseums.bsky.social
📢 Help us spread the word and bring back the #MuseumSuperbowl

On Monday morning let's flood Bluesky with bowl and owls 🍜🦉

@wakefieldmuseums.bsky.social
@maryrosemuseum.bsky.social
@romanpalace.bsky.social
@merchantshallyork.org
@roystonmuseum.bsky.social
@penleehousegallery.bsky.social
A vintage silver bowl with two handles, floral engravings around the exterior, and resting on three small ball-shaped feet, set against a plain light background.
February 6, 2026 at 12:21 PM
merchantshallyork.org
It's grey (again), it's raining (again) and we've run out of biscuits (absolute disaster).

We are in need of some red door energy.

May this bobby dazzler bring you some much needed oomph to get you through Friday. ❤️
We are looking at a close up of the Fossgate entrance to the Hall showing a brick building with a carved stone doorway with two red doors beaming in the morning sunlight. Above the doorway is a carved and painted Coat of Arms.
February 6, 2026 at 9:21 AM