Barley Hall is a stunning medieval town house, once home to the Priors of Nostell and a Lord Mayor of York.

Reconstructing Medieval York

York Archaeological Trust purchased Barley Hall in 1987 and were able to restore the site to its Medieval glory.

The oldest parts of Barley Hall date from about 1360, when the Hall was built as the York townhouse of Nostell Priory, a monastery near Wakefield in West Yorkshire. A new wing was added to the building in about 1430. Soon after, the Hall became the home of a leading York citizen, William Snawsell, Goldsmith, Alderman and Lord Mayor of York.

Discover the Secrets of the Middle Ages

The medieval building has been lovingly restored to its original splendour with stunning high ceilings, beautiful exposed timber frames, and possibly the only horn window in England. It has been decorated to replicate what it would have looked like as the Snawsell home around 1483 and boasts a magnificent Great Hall. Visitors to Barley Hall can make themselves at home and sit on the chairs and handle the objects and experience what it would have been like to live in Medieval England.

The Priors of Nostell

Thomas de Dereford, Prior of Nostell from 1337 to 1372, arranged for the building of a hostel in York in 1360. The Priors of Nostell were prebendary canons, senior clerics, at York Minster and as such were expected to attend ceremonies, services and business meetings in the city. As they were required to be present at the Minster so often it made sense for Prior Dereford to build a residence in York. However, by the fifteenth century the Priory had fallen on hard times and this was no doubt the reason why the hostel came to be leased out to private tenants. The most distinguished of these, and the man whose family home we are working to reproduce at Barley Hall, was Master William Snawsell.

Step back in time and discover this Hidden Gem of York! Barley Hall is a medieval townhouse that has been restored to its former glory after being rediscovered in the 1980’s. It boasts stunning high ceilings, beautiful exposed timber frames and a magnificent Great Hall. Learn about the hall’s former residents which included the Priors of Nostell and even a former Mayor of York. Discover how residents would have lived during the medieval period.

From Stonegate, the entrance to Coffee Yard can be found under the ‘Ye Olde Starre Inne’ sign – look out for the red devil! From Swinegate, the passageway is at the corner with Grape Lane, under the white-painted building.