COST 2103: 4th Advanced Voice Function Workshop

The venue for this Workshop is the Company of Merchant Taylor's Hall in York <map>.

Wireless internet access is available throughout the venue.

There were seven guilds in the City of York which began in the 13thCentury and Ordinances and members' register are in the City archives of 1387. The Merchant Taylors' Hall, built six centuries ago within the medieval city wall, is one of the most remarkable memorials to the City's medieval past. Many Guild Halls were built in York of which only three remain today, the Merchant Taylors being that for the tailoring trades based in the city. At its height there were some 130 master tailors in membership which not only gave an indication of the extent of the tailoring business, much of it for export, but also explains why the Great Hall, at some 18m long and 9m wide, is as large as it is. In this hall the Company held meetings to enforce its control of tailoring standards, to arbitrate on disputes and to celebrate feast days. It encompasses the Great Hall, the Little Hall and other spaces.

The Great Hall
The method of spanning the Great Hall with the roof timbers can be readily observed as the roof timbers are all exposed. It makes use of large oak timbersand an unusual combination of two systems - a triangular truss consisting of a bottom tie with a central post and braces and two big curved arches both of which are capable of supporting the pitched rafters and roof covering.

The Great Gall forms two cubes side by side since the width and height are similar and the length is twice that size. The arms over the fireplace are the London Drapers Company Armorial Bearings, painted on wood before 1668, at a time long before the Merchant Taylors of York had its own arms. The "Waits" or "Minstrels Gallery" is one of the real curiousity of the Hall. There are references to its erection in 1649 and it is believed on stylistic evidence that it was replaced with present Gallery around 1725.

Little Hall
The little Hall was added when the Merchant Taylor's Hall was extended in the late 15th century. There is a record of this in the minutes of 13 June 1539, where what is now known as the Little Hall was referred to as the "Counsell howse" of the Tailors Hall and later the "Counting House". Today it is used for receptions and small meetings.