Merchant Adventurers’ Hall (@merchantshallyork.org)

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 11, 2026, 7:57 AM

Appropriate PPE at all times. 👍

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 10, 2026, 7:28 PMReposted by @merchantshallyork.org

My liege, we are off hunting. Have you brought your falcon? Nay for I have brought my snail.

We are looking at a manuscript of a hare sat on a fearsome looking greyhound. The hare is wearing a gauntlet on which sits a snail who is absolutely up for the hunt.

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 10, 2026, 8:11 PM

😉

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 10, 2026, 7:56 PM

Good question and no we cannot. However we don’t think there’s such a thing as a hunting cannon that baby rabbits could fit in. The whole rabbit, snale, angry greyhound thing is fine though.

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 10, 2026, 7:28 PM

My liege, we are off hunting. Have you brought your falcon? Nay for I have brought my snail.

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 9, 2026, 11:29 AM

In 1601 the Merchant Adventurers built an extension to their medieval Hall. All we can say is that it beats a conservatory…

We are looking at a rooftop view of a three bay Tudor extension of timber frame and brick construction with a tiled roof. The plaster work is mustard yellow and pops between the orange tiles of later buildings that surround the Hall.

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 8, 2026, 5:33 PM

Medieval guild hall + autumn = Phwoar! 👀 🧡

We are looking at the exterior of the Hall on a sunny autumnal day. It’s chilly and leaves cover the lawn. Shadows from the trees cast pattens on the medieval brickwork whilst the yellow ochre plasterwork glows in the October sunshine.

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 7, 2026, 11:47 AM

Ooof that's a terrible vengeance. 😐

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 7, 2026, 11:45 AM

Yes it was a Puritan favourite and was a favourite amongst dissenters. Oliver Cromwell was known to have used it.

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 7, 2026, 10:45 AM

The Bible because of its forceful language was not popular with the authorities and James I commissioned a new “Authorised Version” in 1604 (published in 1611). We still use this as Merchant Adventurers swear on this when becoming a Member of the Company.

We are looking at a woodcut from the Bible shoring a stylised head in the centre with angel type creatures on either side.

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 7, 2026, 10:39 AM

It was known as the Breeches Bible because it describes Adam and Eve as having ‘breeches’ to cover their nakedness. Our version has a young lady called Eliza Burnall practicing her signature!

We are looking at the last page of the Bible which has the name Eliza Burnall signed several times.

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 7, 2026, 10:33 AM

This version was printed in 1607 by Royal printer Robert Barker and includes this beautiful woodcut title page. It is of interest to our friends across the pond as it was carried to North America by Robert Reverend Hunt - the chaplain of the newly established Jamestown colony.

We are looking at a page from the Bible showing a woodcut of a title page for the New Testament and features the twelve tribes of Israel and the apostles.

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 7, 2026, 10:27 AM

The Geneva Bible was first published in 1560 and as you might have guessed, first printed in Geneva. It was written with annotations by Protestant reformers: John Calvin, John Knox and Theodore In Scotland a law was passed in 1579 requiring every household to possess a copy.

We are looking at two printed pages from a Bible printed in Roman type for ease of reading.

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 7, 2026, 10:00 AM

We have something old and interesting to show you today. This is the Geneva Bible or Breeches Bible. It dates to 1607!

We are looking at a slightly beaten up and aged leather book witt broken hasps.

We are looking at the same leather bound book from the side showing the yellow, aged and worn pages. Remnants of two leather hasps and their fixings can still be seen.

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 6, 2026, 2:53 PM

This shows the floods of 2015 and the Hall surrounded by water. The only time in our history that we were a moated site!

We are looking at the Hall from a distance on a sunny winter's day. The garden to the Hall is non existent as it is under flood water. The water laps up against the walls of the chapel.

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 6, 2026, 2:49 PM

Over the centuries the Hall has flooded many times. The last was in 2015 which many of you will remember. There is now a permanent reminder carved into the stonework of the Hall near to the chapel.

We are looking at a section of wall carved with flood marks and the dates when the flooding took place. These are recorded as 1831, 1947, 1982 and perhaps unhelpfully for a building seven centuries old, "15" which marks the highest recorded flood level which was in 2015.

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 6, 2026, 2:42 PM

A little view that you can no longer see. This glimpse of a medieval window from inside a quadruple Tudor chimney stack was only visible 10 years ago whilst we undertook some flood recovery work. This space is now a much needed cupboard!

We are looking at a corridor made of brick, it leads to a dead end of a limewashed wall and glazed stone mullion window.

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 5, 2026, 12:10 PM

The Merchant Adventurers' Hall is brought to you today by: The Letter "G" (for Great Hall) and The Number: 1357.

We are looking at the Great Hall on a sunny bright afternoon. The medieval oak frame roof soars upwards and glows in browns, oranges and gold. The sun can be seen streaming through the Georgian sash windows creating puddles of light on the pine and pitch pine floors.

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 5, 2026, 7:38 AM

That’s a 1970s dessert right there!

@merchantshallyork.org Oct 4, 2026, 8:21 PM

So do we! 😆 👇