York continued as a important trading centre after the Norman Conquest. The city acted as the main administrative and judicial centre for the north of England and benefited from extensive royal patronage. It had a royal charter by the 12th century and could levy its own taxes from the 13th century. By the 14th century York was England’s richest provincial town and the Merchant Adventurers was its richest guild. At its height, York was exporting wool, cloth and grain to northern Europe in return for textiles, cooking and table wares, and wines. Iron, olive oil, fish, figs and raisins were brought from Spain, furs from the Baltic and fish from Iceland. Cloth and ale were exported to Scandinavia in return for herrings.

The ivory seal of toll collector Snarrus showing a man holding a purse with coins falling into it

A leather purse with coins and trading tokens from the continent