Sunday 1 September 2013

SWEET MEMORIES


As Whitstable is to oysters and Bath is to buns, so York is to chocolate. Both Terry's and Rowntree's had large factories in the city until recently. Their memory is still fresh in local minds though the heavy, sweet-scented air is no longer a feature of a walk around York's historic streets. Terry's factory closed in 2005 and the last Smartie was minted at the Rowntree works in 2006. 

The brand new art deco Terry's factory in 1926.

 Now it's a back-drop to the famous York Car Boot Sale (funny how some people don't want to be featured on my blog...)

New apartments tomorrow?


In contrast, the Terry family's former home, Goddards, is kept in good order by the National Trust, though I feel it is a little too respectable and suburban in design to merit its Arts and Crafts label.

Phew - we're not quite old enough to recall these.

Here's little known chocolate fact:
Everyone has heard of Terry's Chocolate Orange, first harvested in 1931, but did you know that it was preceded by the Chocolate Apple which appeared in 1926? Production of this rare fruit ceased in 1954 - we don't remember it at all. (You can just see one in the photo below.)

I felt that this room, devoted to juxtaposing tiny vintage silk dresses with advertisements for luscious chocolate treats, was rather unsettling. (Chocolate or dress? Chocolate or dress? Chocolate or dress...?)

The Terry family - a bit dull and conventional like their house?

Here is Joseph Rowntree - Quaker, philanthropist, social reformer and chocolatier! He made it his life's work to improve the lives of his employees providing them with a library, free education, a social welfare officer, a doctor, a dentist and a pension fund. He looks, justifiably, rather pleased with himself. 

His legacy to the country and the city of York is a group of four trusts:
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, a Quaker philanthropic trust.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation which funds social policy research and development.
The Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust which owns and manages the model village of New Earswick and other York housing schemes.
The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust- a political body which promotes democratic reform and social justice within the UK.

And some very delightful tiny confectionery tins.


And Smarties and Kit Kat and Rolo and Yorkies...


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20 comments:

  1. Chocolate or dress? What a choice, I think I need both. Some great images Nilly, some lovely background to it all, as always. Confectionary packaging is so good isn't it, it evokes so many memories. Mind you, the Terry's apple certainly doesn't feature in my memory either. Jx

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    1. I agree about the packaging - we probably each have our own particular era that stays in the memory. You might remember OMO washing powder but I'll bet you're too young to remember little plastic cushions full of Drene shampoo!

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  2. The Rowntree, Terry, Cadbury, and Lever families, to name but a few, were great philanthropists and their legacy lives on today. They cared for their workers in a way that is now sadly missing.
    It is very strange that there are two houses, built in the Arts and Craft style called Goddards. It is easy to mix them up. At first I thought that you were referring to the one in Surrey designed by Lutyens with a garden by Jekyll as they do have strong similarities.

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    1. Yes, I noticed the two "Goddards" - I think the Surrey house wins hands down!

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  3. Both Nilly! defiantly both!
    You bought back a memory with this lovely post...Can you remember Terry's Neapolitans? i think they were called.....always had those in me Christmas stocking! Little chocolates in different flavours, always in a box at Christmas time..LOVE the sweet doggie tin....I often Wish Chocolate's came in those wonderful boxes with pictures on the front....Remember my Mama always received a box of Black magic from my Dad with the most lovely kittie or swan on the box...Sorry I am rambling this morning...Happy September , Nilly! hugs Maria x

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    1. Thank you Mara - I was trying to remember the name of those mini bars of flavoured chocolate - I loved them! You couldn't buy Terry's chocs in East Kent where I grew up so they were a special treat when I visited Granny in Berkshire. Yum!

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  4. Lovely post Nilly, if a little sad at the demise of these fine old British institutions. Great photos, the matriarch in the b&w pic looks like Penelope Wilton from Downton Abbey, does she time travel I wonder? Oh and the hat on that bonny baby :)

    Jean x

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    1. Doesn't she just - exactly what I thought!

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  5. What a super post Nilly, took me right back to the late 40s and early 50s. I used to get a small tine of Bluebird toffees every Christmas. I certainly do not remember the Terry Chocolate Apple!

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    1. And now those tins are very collectable - I wonder if you kept them?

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  6. That was the ONLY reason I got so blooming fat living in York. The chocolate by osmosis sneakily found its way into my bod. By the time I knew what was happening it was obviously far, far too late. And as for sugar beet... well I mean to say!

    LLX

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    1. Sneakily by osmosis?!! Thank goodness there weren't any breweries in York...

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  7. Another interesting post Nilly. I have heard about the York car boot, is it worth a visit? I love the image of Joseph Rowntree.

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    1. Yes - the car boot sale is very good indeed and you can follow up with look around York - always a treat. Check their Facebook page on Fridays for details as it is sometimes cancelled at short notice.
      https://www.facebook.com/yorkcarboot

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  8. HOW could I have missed this one, Nilly!!?? Great stuff - thank you so much for featuring two of my favourite companies. I had a friend who used to work (as an accountant) at Rowntrees before it closed down and he said he loved to go onto the shop floor as it was like being in Willy Wonka's factory - overhead tubes with chocolates whizzing past!

    I heartily approve of chocolate and orange but have never heard, or even thought of, chocolate and apple. Apple has a very high water content so doesn't naturally go with chocolate, though I suppose you can get apple essence...

    Love the 'chocolate or dress' question.........no, no problem for me!!

    Axxx

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    1. It must have been apple essence I should think. As I said in a comment above, many of Terry's varieties weren't available in the Kentish town where I grew up so they were a real treat for me.

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  9. Chocolate and apple ... no, no, no ... that just doesn't work! No wonder it didn't catch on. I do love a chocolate orange however, and struggle not to be a total glutton and eat it all in one go. It reminds me of my grandmother who used to buy me one every Christmas.
    I love the photo of Joseph Rowntree - what a beautifully expressive face.
    M x

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    1. I wonder if it was in the toe of your Christmas stocking instead of a tangerine?

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  10. Great post as always..love the silk dress..and the chocolate.... mmm, decisions! x

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    1. Missed you at Ardingly - methinks you must have been Busy elsewhere!

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