Barley Hall

Over het museum

Barley Hall is a medieval townhouse tucked away in Coffee Yard, between Stonegate and Swinegate in York. The oldest parts date to around 1360, when Nostell Priory, a monastery near Wakefield, built it as a base for its priors on their visits to the city. A new wing was added around 1430, and for at least twenty years from the mid-1460s the house was the home of William Snawsell, a goldsmith and alderman who later became Lord Mayor of York. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries the Crown took the property, and over the following centuries it was divided into smaller homes and workshops.

By the 20th century the medieval structure was hidden behind a modern facade, and the building was used as a plumber's workshop and showroom. Its true age was recognised in 1980 and the full extent of the medieval hall was revealed in 1984, when the site was about to be redeveloped. York Archaeological Trust, now called York Archaeology, bought it in January 1987, carried out detailed archaeological and tree-ring studies and found that only about 30 per cent of the original timbers could be reused.

The modern facade was removed and a new timber frame was built off site and moved into place over ten days. The restored house opened to the public in 1993 and is named after Professor Maurice Barley, a former chairman of the trust. Today it is arranged to show how it might have looked around 1483, with a Great Hall, a horn window that may be the only one of its kind in England, and furnishings that visitors can sit on and handle.

Hoogtepunten

• Restored medieval townhouse recreated as the home of William Snawsell around 1483
• Great Hall with exposed timber frame and a rare horn window
• Furniture and objects that visitors may sit on and handle
• Story of the building's rediscovery behind a modern facade in the 1980s
• Tickets valid for unlimited free return visits for 12 months

Vaste collectie

• Barley Hall: the Snawsell home of 1483 – The restored townhouse is arranged to show how a wealthy York family might have lived around 1483, with a Great Hall, a horn window and objects that visitors can handle.

Opgericht

1993

Beheerder

York Archaeology

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

An admission ticket gives unlimited free return visits for 12 months from the date of purchase. Prices are the standard online prices; adult tickets start from £9.50. Discounts of 20% apply for NHS, emergency services, armed forces and Blue Light Card holders and for York Card holders. English Heritage members receive 15% off, and holders of a MAX Card and the Blue Peter Badge enter free under the conditions on the website. The York Pass is accepted. Tickets are non-refundable but can be rebooked.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: niet aanwezig
• Aangepast toilet: niet aanwezig
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The historic building has steps and raised thresholds throughout and no lift. A temporary ramp leads into the Great Hall and the Steward's Room, and wheelchair users can use a separate entrance to see the vestibule, the Great Hall, the Steward's Room and the introductory film. The two public toilets are not accessible toilets. Information is available in Braille and large print, glass doors have contrast markings, visual stories can be downloaded or borrowed at the front desk, and sensory packs are available. Seating is provided throughout the building. All staff have disability and autism awareness training and some staff have BSL training. Service, assistance and emotional support dogs are welcome.

Kinderen & gezin

• Doe- en voelstations

The house is described as a tactile experience where visitors can sit on the furniture and handle objects. Family tickets for four or five people are available.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The entrance to Coffee Yard is under the Ye Olde Starre Inne sign on Stonegate, or through a passage at the corner of Swinegate and Grape Lane. Coffee Yard is a narrow alley about 25 metres long that opens into the courtyard where the main entrance is. The museum is near National Cycle Routes 65 and 658.

Service & horeca

Large bags and suitcases cannot be stored on site; the museum suggests luggage storage in the city or at York railway station. Bags may be searched and the maximum bag size is 38 cm by 30 cm; aerosols are not allowed.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Zakelijke evenementen

Private hire and corporate bookings are handled by the York Archaeology hospitality team.

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