Merchant Adventurers' Hall - Free Audio Guide

The Merchant Adventurers' Hall is a medieval guildhall in York, England, recognized as a Grade I listed building and a scheduled ancient monument. Constructed primarily in 1357, it served as a religious fraternity hall and later became home to the Company of Merchant Adventurers, granted royal charter by Queen Elizabeth I in 1581. The Hall features remarkable timber framing, including the Great Hall, which is the largest timber-framed building still in use for its original purpose. It also houses a chapel and an undercroft for the ill and poor. The Company continues to exist today as a charitable organization, active in the cultural life of York. Notable artworks within the Hall include paintings by Jan Griffier and William Etty, making it a site of both historical and artistic significance.