For well over a hundred years what we now call Barley Hall was lost and forgotten amongst a jumble of near derelict, mainly Victorian buildings that occupied Coffee Yard. Only a few exposed beam ends would have given clues to what stood hidden beneath but nobody had bothered to even notice them.

In 1980 things started to happen, the beams were observed and conclusions drawn that there was a medieval structure under the later façade; it was officially recorded as a medieval building and classified as a ‘dangerous structure’ fit only for demolition. Four years later the buildings were sold with the intention of developing shops and flats on the site. An architectural survey of the standing buildings took place while a limited archaeological excavation was carried out looking at the floor levels. The survey showed the substantial remains of a 14th century medieval house with 15th century additions (the great hall).

It was decided that the medieval remains were a valuable part of York’s heritage, although York had many medieval churches and some guild halls open to the public, there were no medieval domestic buildings available for the public to visit. At the beginning of 1987 the York Archaeological Trust acquired the building with a view to a full and accurate restoration of the house.

Restoration started with a full archaeological investigation of the numerous floor levels, which had accumulated over six centuries and the deposits below these which showed traces of an even earlier building on the site. Evidence for the present great hall’s tiled floor was revealed at this time. Further recording and investigation of the upstanding timbers was also carried out and it was found that the majority of oak timbers used in the older part of the building had all come from the same piece of woodland and had been felled early in 1360. The Great Hall was probably built in the 1430s with alterations being carried out around 1515.

The reconstruction of Barley Hall was a lengthy process; the surviving timbers were dis-assembled, new oak timbers were cut to match the originals if they needed replacing. Replica roof tiles were made, the cost of these sponsored by members of the public and materials were selected to fill in between the wooden frame. Eventually the frame was ready to reconstruct, traditional wooden pegs were used to hold the frame together, and the frame in filled.

The Trust decided that Barley Hall should be restored and furnished to how it might have looked when William Snawsell lived there in the second half of the fifteenth century.

Craftsmen were found to replicate the floor tiles that had been found in the excavation of the great hall, horn windows and fenestralls (portable window coverings consisting of a wooden frame with linen stretched over them and treated with sheep fat, rosin and alum) were made for the first time in hundreds of years. An original medieval fireplace found on an excavation near York was installed in the great hall.

Furniture and furnishings were researched and commissioned from craftsmen all being made using traditional materials and techniques. The designs and colours were based on surviving examples of the period. Although Barley Hall is only partially furnished, leaving room for temporary exhibitions, educational workshops etc. there is enough to give a real feel of what it would have looked and felt like to be there in the fifteenth century.

Barley Hall opened to the public in July 1993.