THE GUILDHALL YORK

Just behind the Mansion House, adjacent to the River Ouse, is York's Guildhall.
Built in 1445 on the site of an earlier Common Hall, a reference was made to it's existence in a charter way back in 1256.

The original use of the Guildhall was for the control and overseeing of trade in the city,which kept an eye on the quality of the goods produced by the various trades.

Richard lll was entertained there in 1483.

It was also the venue for Margeret Clitherow's trial in 1586. She was convicted of harbouring Roman Catholic Priests and was sentenced to be crushed to death on Good ~Friday. It took her 15 minute to die, and after her death her hand was severed and is now in the Chapel at the Bar Convent in York.

Prince Albert, Prince Consort to Queen Victoria was a guest at a Royal banquet.

£200,000 was counted there before being given to the Scots by Oliver Cromwell for their help during the English Civil War.