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Merchant Adventurers’ Hall

@merchantshallyork.org

13K followers 580 following 3.7K posts

Discover one of the finest medieval guildhalls in the world. Home to York’s entrepreneurs for 660 years and counting. Website: merchantshallyork.org

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Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · Apr 7

Put down your sandwich. We have birthday news!

Our lovely garden is 100 years old this year (we know it doesn't look a day over 95).

In celebration we have launched a free exhibition in our garden, accessible through the Hall’s digital museum guide on Bloomberg Connects.

But wait there's more...

We are looking at a poster showing a lino print of a timber framed building in a cartoon garden setting. Above the building are the words, "The Rest Garden at 100".

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Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 15h

😘

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 15h

We’ve done some googling and we think it’s an owl. 🦉

Clearly masquerading as a hedgehog. 🦔

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Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 15h

Well now you say it so do we. 😳

Okay…

That hedgehog has seen things.

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Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 16h

This owl has seen things…

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Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 22h

Yes they would have done. 👍

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 1d

We would definitely need a cushion!

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 1d

Well now you’ve said it! 🦉

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 1d

That must have been really interesting!

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 1d

This final and equally fancy example was likely made during the Commonwealth Period (when Oliver Cromwell was Lord Protector).

Originally much lighter in colour, the oak has darkened over the centuries.

And with that, we're done. Until next time chair champions! 🪑 😍

We are looking at an ornately carved oak chair with a decorated back panel.

We are looking at a close up of an ornately carved back panel of an oak chair with geometric patterns, scrolls and diamond shapes.

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Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 1d

All three examples are have intricate carved wooden backs. As can be seen on this mega detailed example from the late 17th Century.

The chairs also had to have:

arm supports* ✅
lack an upholstered seat ✅

*The arm supports on this chair are later - far too fancy! 🧐

We are looking at an ornately carved oak chair with a highly decorated back panel.

We are looking at a close up of an ornately carved oak chair with diamond shaped patterns, scrolls and floral motifs.

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Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 1d

So a wainscot chair has to have the following:

arm supports having been shaped on a lathe ✅
back legs being square-sectioned ✅

They also had a carved wooden back in a relatively complex design: This one has a carved tree motif, rose and diamond pattern. ✅

We are looking at an ornately carved oak chair which includes a decorated back panel in the shape of a diamond and a head rest decorated with a stylised tree.

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Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 1d

As you will no doubt know, we love a 17th century wainscot chair.

They're not very bottom friendly but they're lovely to look at.

So today we present not one, not two but three oaktastic (and a bit of ash) chairs.

Let's take a closer look...

We are looking at a black and white photo showing a gate key table with three wainscot chairs positioned around it. Ceramic and pewter vessels sit on the table.

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Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 1d

Yes they are former and current Governors and Merchant Adventurers.

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 1d

They are 668 years old and yes if you’re careful you can give them a hug. 🤗

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 1d

Why thank you! ☺️

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 1d

Aww thank you!

Although our floors will never be as old or jaw droppingly beautiful as yours, we are proud of them nevertheless. ☺️

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 1d

Thank you for asking! The floor boards are a combination of pine and pitch pine.

They are also recycled!

They are reclaimed boards from the demolition of West Yorkshire cotton mills and York Prison in the 1930s.

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Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 1d

🥹🤣

Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 1d

Until we saw the hashtag we thought it might be a Huxley dupe.

Then we realised Huxley is a one off. 🥰

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Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 1d

Happy Sunday everyone!

May your day be as sunny and light as the Great Hall is on a early autumn afternoon.

We are looking at a large room with an oak framed roof. Sun spills through Georgian sash windows casting squares of light on the uneven pine floors. Despite its size the room feels warm and is peaceful and quiet.

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Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 2d

a man wearing a hat and a fake mustache has the word twang on his chest

ALT: a man wearing a hat and a fake mustache has the word twang on his chest

media.tenor.com

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Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 2d

You TWANG with the best of them. ❤️

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Reposted by Merchant Adventurers’ Hall

Fishbourne Roman Palace @romanpalace.bsky.social · 2d

Looking for an old post (that time we sent a Gareth Southgate Christmas decoration to @merchantshallyork.org if you're interested), and we stumbled on that time we TWANG-ed a bunch of stuff on our west wing.

Hope you enjoy the memory as much as we did.

(Follow the 🧵)

bsky.app/profile/roma...

Fishbourne Roman Palace @romanpalace.bsky.social · Dec 17

Right, it's #TWANG* day, so we're going to twang a load of stuff with our mini-catapult. Pay attention it's science.

First, a tennis ball. By way of calibration, if you will.

But we know what you're all asking... What would happen if we filled that tennis ball with concrete?

*Not a thing.

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Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 2d

We can’t. That will be the best Christmas present ever. 😍

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Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 2d

You are right. We’ll need to get our thinking caps on! 🤔 🧑‍🎄

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