Founded by Tim Rayborn in 1994 as Florata, the group was established to explore a variety of medieval repertoires, as well as the relationship between medieval Europe and the cultures of the Sephardic Jews of Spain and the moors of North Africa.

Consisting initially of graduate students at the University of Leeds, the group was, from 1994 to 1996 the Ensemble-in-Residence for the Centre for Medieval Studies at Leeds University. They performed an annual concert series at the University.

A number of line-up changes occured over the years, but Tim Rayborn continued to direct the ensemble, and it performed in the UK at such venues as the York Early Music Festival, the Adrian Boult Hall in Birmingham, the Spitalfields Festival in London, and Early Music Wales in Cardiff.

The group produced two recordings for ASV/Gaudeamus, both of which were received with critical acclaim. The second recording, Far Away Lands, was a bestseller.

Ensemble Florata disbanded in early 1999, and Tim chose not to use the name again to create another incarnation.

Photograph of the final line-up of Ensemble Florata from 1997,
featuring, l.to r.: Tim Rayborn, Alison Sabedoria, Rebecca Austen-Brown