Merchant Adventurers' Hall

About the museum

The hall on Fossgate was built between 1357 and 1361 by a fraternity of local men and women who combined religious devotion with trade. Its great hall is a large timber-framed space held together by wooden pegs and is still used for the purpose it was built for. A chapel is attached to the building and is still used for worship.

From 1371 the undercroft below the great hall served as a hospital for the poor of York. Over time the guild became a trading company: Henry VI granted a charter in 1430, and Elizabeth I confirmed its status as the Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York in 1581. The company has made its home here ever since and keeps records that reach back to the Middle Ages.

Today the hall is open to visitors as a museum of the company and its city. Displays cover its history, its records and paintings, and the people connected to it, including the local historian and archivist Maud Sellers. The hall is a Grade I listed building and a scheduled monument, and it is also used for events and weddings.

Highlights

• Medieval timber-framed great hall from the 14th century
• Undercroft that served as a hospital for the poor from 1371
• Chapel still used for worship
• Company records and paintings
• Free digital guide with audio description

Permanent exhibitions

• The Great Hall – The 14th-century timber-framed hall where the company has met for centuries, shown with its paintings.
• The Undercroft and Chapel – The vaulted undercroft that housed a hospital for the poor from 1371, with the adjoining chapel.

Founded

1357

Operated by

Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York

Admission & discounts

No advance booking is needed for individual visits. One paid visit gives free re-entry for 12 months (non-transferable, ticket must be signed and shown with ID). Free entry for York Pass holders, MAX Card holders, Museum Development North volunteers and Blue Badge tour guides. English Heritage and Art Fund members and York residents (with proof of address) pay half price. Card and contactless payments only; American Express is not accepted.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

Step-free entrance on Fossgate with a ramp and automatic doors; the Piccadilly entrance has steps. A platform lift links the two floors (one wheelchair user at a time on the first floor). Large-print displays and menus are available, and fire alarms have flashing lights. Blue Badge holders can park for up to three hours in two bays on Piccadilly. Assistance dogs are welcome; other assistance animals should be arranged in advance.

Kids & families

• Stroller-friendly

Pushchairs and mobility scooters are allowed, but some spaces are narrow. Visitors aged 16 or under are free with a full-paying adult, and school visits are welcome.

Getting there & parking

The hall lies opposite the Coppergate Centre, close to JORVIK Viking Centre and Clifford’s Tower. Taxis and buses to the centre leave from outside the station. Limited cycle parking is available at the Fossgate entrance, with more on Piccadilly and Fossgate.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check

The Merchants’ Coffee House serves locally roasted coffee and homemade cakes. Limited bag storage is available in the cloakrooms. The hall and café are cashless.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Weddings and civil partnerships, corporate events, dinners and celebrations.

Plan your visit