Merchant Adventurers Hall, Guildhall, York

Description

YORK

SE6051NE FOSSGATE
1112-1/17/348 (South West side)
14/06/54 Merchant Adventurers' Hall

GV I

Hall, undercroft and chapel; attached entrance extension and
Governor's Parlour wing. Hall and undercroft 1357-61, partly
rebuilt with inserted stack in late C16; hall refenestrated
c1720. Chapel c1410, refitted 1667, re-roofed and gable end
partly rebuilt in early C20. Entrance extension c1600, partly
rebuilt and restored in 1935. Parlour wing c1950. Major
restorations with some rebuilding 1927 and 1935 and later. For
the Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York.
MATERIALS: undercroft of magnesian limestone and rose wall
tiles, right return rebuilt in red brick in irregular bond,
left return of mottled brick in stretcher bond. Hall of
exposed timber-framing with rendered infill panels, framing in
left return renewed. Chapel of magnesian limestone and
orange-red brick. Entrance extension of orange brick in
English bond on ground floor, right return of red brick in
irregular bond; upper floor timber-framed with rendered infill
panels; timber doorcases. Parlour wing in orange brick in
stretcher bond with moulded brick dressings. All roofs of tile
with rebuilt brick stack.
PLAN: hall and undercroft of 8 unequal bays in 2 parallel
ranges; south east chapel; north-east entrance extension of 3
bays in 3 parallel ranges; L-shaped Governor's Parlour wing
attached to south-east of entrance extension.

EXTERIOR: ENTRANCE FRONT TO FOSSGATE: triple-gabled 3-bay
extension of 2 storeys with attics: 2-storey Governor's
Parlour wing to left. In left bay, restored doorcase of
tapering Ionic pilasters raised on pedestals carved with
fretwork ornament, with moulded cornice over jewelled frieze
of arabesques and lion masks, and replacement
geometric-panelled double doors. First floor entrance in
centre bay between storeys, approached by flight of steps to
C20 panelled double doors. Ground floor windows are of 2 brick
mullioned lights; on first floor, 3 transomed lights with
horizontal sliding sashes. Attic windows are of 2 lights with
ovolo mullions and frames. Gables finished with restored
bargeboards carved with vine trails, terminating in Tudor
flower stops and shaped pendant finials. To left of entrance
extension, behind Governor's Parlour wing, 2-storey 4-bay hall
and undercroft front. Undercroft has blocked doorway in
2-centred chamfered arch and low recess beneath depressed
pointed arch with indecipherable black letter inscription:
above, two inserted lights. Towards left end is square-headed
window of 2 cinquefoiled lights and second similar window now
altered to doorway. On hall floor, windows are 18-pane sashes,

one in left end bay altered to doorway.
PICCADILLY FRONT: 2 storeys 8 bays. Inserted panelled door in
2-centred brick arch at left end of undercroft. At right end,
altered window of 2 lights, with double hollow-chamfered
timber surround and mullion with moulded base, reversed and
reset. Remaining windows are trefoiled single lights in stone
surrounds, one beneath tall pointed arch of blocked former
doorway. At far right, chapel has square-headed window of
three cinquefoiled lights in chamfered surround. On hall
floor, windows are 18-pane sashes.
LEFT RETURN: 2-bay twin-gabled front to hall and undercroft on
moulded double chamfered plinth: left bay jettied within
chapel. Undercroft has angle buttress to right and restored
inserted window of 3 cinquefoiled lights. Chapel has similar
5-light window in chamfered surround and moulded and chamfered
plinth: in gable end, blind recess beneath flat arch of rubbed
brick, round-arched in centre.
RIGHT RETURN: 2-storey return to entrance extension, to left
of 2-bay twin-gabled hall, both parts jettied. Extension has
inserted 2-light timber mullion window on ground floor and
blocked 3-light window to left of restored 2-light timber
mullion window on first floor. Undercroft has 8 narrow
rectangular windows in hollow chamfered brick surrounds. Hall
has 4-light window with diamond mullions in each gable.
Windows except those to hall have square or diamond lattice
glazing.

INTERIOR: ENTRANCE EXTENSION: C20 staircase with moulded close
string, pilaster balusters, heavy moulded handrail and carved
square newels with shaped finials. Ground floor: restored
brick fireplace with 3-centred brick arch; huge board listing
Benefactions as at 'Midsummer' 1849. First floor: first room
to left has stone fireplace with crocketed Gothick panel jambs
and frieze carved with foliage and masks: to right, plank
cupboard door and further right, 3-panel door on butterfly
hinges. Second room to left has fireplace in chamfered
2-centred arch. Room to right entered through 3-panel door:
fireplace with timber lintel to left of panelled cupboard door
on butterfly hinges. Roofs have principal rafter trusses with
butt purlins.
UNDERCROFT: entered from extension through 2-centred arch,
chamfered externally, rebated internally beneath chamfered
segmental rere-arch; central arcade of 7 square
chamfer-stopped posts with enlarged heads braced to axial and
transverse beams: outer ends of transverse beams tenoned into
shortened posts, most raised on corbels, some on re-used
upturned moulded capitals. Massive bank of four chimney stacks
in chamfered surrounds with 4-centred arches. Some windows
retain shutter hinges.
HALL: entered from extension through round door arch on
incised panel pilaster jambs and 8-panel double doors with
semicircular head; central arcade of 7 chamfered posts with
attached cornice capitals and enlarged heads braced to axial

and tie beams. Dais end of east aisle lined with run-through
panelling: west aisle fitted with panelled triple Stall of
round-headed alcove seats with desks set within pilastered
Ionic screen beneath pedimented entablature with pulvinated
frieze and modillion cornice. Above, painted carving of the
Arms of the Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of
York. Chimneypiece of Doric pilasters supporting moulded
cornice has cast-iron grate within eared architrave of timber
beneath 3-centred stone lintel with keyblock, and painted
overmantel panel recording repairs of 1849. Cupboard doors of
fielded panels flank chimneypiece. Side walls lined with C17
wooden benches on Tuscan column legs. Wall above main door
retains two 4-light windows with diamond mullions, now
blocked: adjoining one window is panel with stencilled
decoration of rosettes. Committee Room partitioned off hall,
entered through 6-panel door in fluted doorcase with angle
roundels and cornice head. Similar cupboard door to left of
rebuilt brick fireplace: moulded ceiling cornice. Roofs of
kerb-principal trusses, 4 with crown posts, 3 collared.
CHAPEL: 4-centred entrance arch of 2 continuously moulded
orders filled with restored screen of trefoiled lights with
mouchette tracery and C20 tympanum of arched lights: central
double gates of tapering turned balusters, ramped-up at outer
ends. Two tiers of benches with desks of moulded panelling
arranged in collegiate form, rear benches fixed to similar
wall panelling beneath moulded dado rail, bench ends carved
with volutes. Box pews flank sanctuary, one incorporating the
Governor's Seat with turned legs and shaped arms, and dado
rail enriched with consoles. Octagonal pulpit of two tiers of
shaped and moulded panels. Communion rails of slender turned
balusters, moulded rail, and central gate between square posts
with ball finials and shaped brackets at the foot. Wall below
window fitted with run-through panelling. Boards: paired
round-headed panels with ball finials for the Lord's Prayer,
Creed and Decalogue; Royal Arms with C2R cypher, dated 1669;
Arms of the Merchant Adventurers of England dated 1765. Carved
and painted mace rest, dated 1707 and 1801. Stained glass
c1910 depicting two medieval seals of the Company.
GOVERNOR'S PARLOUR: reset chimneypiece with fire surround of
sunk-panel pilasters and 2-panel frieze carved with dragons:
massive overmantel between Ionic pilasters supporting
elaborate moulded cornice and panelled frieze. Overmantel
carved with pedimented Arms of the Company and spandrels
filled with birds and beasts in scrolled foliage. Late C19
stained glass panels depict merchant shipping.
(City of York: RCHME: The Central Area: HMSO: 1981-: 82-88;
Sellers M: A Short Account of the ... Company of Adventurers
of York: York: 1921-).

Listing NGR: SE6054651716

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British Listed Buildings

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Merchant Adventurers Hall

A Grade I Listed Building in Guildhall, York

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