The Chocolate Works

The Chocolate Works, also known as Terry's Chocolate Works, was the confectionery factory of Terry's of York, England. Opened in 1926, it closed in 2005 with the loss of 300 jobs, with production moved to other Kraft Foods sites in mainland Europe. Today, the site is being redeveloped as a mixed-use residential/commercial real estate development.[1]

This article is about the factory in York, England. For the manufacturing of chocolate, see chocolate. For bean-to-bar makers, see List of bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturers.

The Chocolate Works
The former Terry's chocolate factory, 2008. Taken from the 4th floor of the Ebor stand at York Racecourse
General information
TypeFormer Chocolate-factory
Architectural styleArt Deco
Town or cityYork
CountryEngland
Coordinates53.94068°N 1.089596°W / 53.94068; -1.089596
Construction started1924
Completed1926
OwnerGrantside
The Grade II listed Art Deco-style main office and clock tower, seen from the Bishopthorpe Road, York

History
Main article: Terry's

Construction

In 1923, Frank and Noel Terry joined the family business, Terry's of York. They revamped the company, launching new products, and bought a site off Bishopthorpe Road, York on which to develop a new factory. Built in an Art Deco style, the factory known as Terry's Chocolate Works[2][3] included a distinct clock tower.

Production

Opened in 1927, products including the Chocolate Apple (already introduced in 1924), Terry's Chocolate Orange (1932), and Terry's All Gold (1932) were all produced onsite.[2]

With the onset of the Second World War, part of the factory was taken over by F. Hills and Sons of Manchester, with some of Terry's staff helping with the manufacture and repair of aircraft propeller blades. The Chocolate Works continued to produce Terry's products, which were regularly included in troops' rations, and it took on the manufacture of chocolate for London firm Charbonnel & Walker.[2]

In 1978, Terry's was acquired by Colgate-Palmolive for about £17 million. The new owners developed the Chocolate Lemon, which proved to be a failure.[2] The company was sold again a few years later to United Biscuits for £25 million, forming the bulk of their confectionery division. A new plant was built specifically for production of the Chocolate Orange. The business was sold by United Biscuits in 1992 to Kraft Foods for £220 million, who amalgamated it with Chocolat Suchard to create Terry's Suchard.[2][4] Production was also scaled back, with just UK products and Terry's Chocolate Orange, Terry's All Gold and Twilight made for the international market.[5]

Closure

In 2004, Kraft Foods decided to switch production of remaining products All Gold and Chocolate Orange to factories in Belgium, Sweden, Poland and Slovakia, and close the plant.[5] The factory closed on 30 September 2005.[4]

Redevelopment

Bought by developers Grantside, they consulted local people on how to develop the site, renamed The Chocolate Works.[6] Their initial proposed development was rejected by the City of York Council.[7] In February 2010, with the Grade II listed Time Office and Art Deco clock tower secured and scheduled for refurbishment and despite objections from the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment,[8] the firm was given planning permission for a £165 million mixed-use of residential, commercial and leisure.[1] The eventual scheme is projected to create more than 2,700 new jobs in new and refurbished offices, two hotels, shops, bars, cafés and restaurants, over 250 homes, a nursery, care home and medical centre.[9]

Redevelopment started in 2011, with removal of asbestos by trained and certified contractors, followed by demolition of non-scheduled buildings in early 2012.[10]

In April 2013, the site was acquired by joint developers Henry Boot Developments and David Wilson Homes. Approval for a scheme to create 173 apartments was granted in June 2015.[11]

In March 2023, following a £60,000 renovation project, the clock in the tower of the Chocolate Works began to function once again after a pause of 15 years.[12]

References
  1. "Terry's site". City of York Council. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  2. Chrystal, Paul; Dickinson, Joe (24 August 2012). History of Chocolate in York. Grub Street Publishers. ISBN 9781781597491 – via Google Books.
  3. British Association for the Advancement of Science (1932). Report of the Annual Meeting. J. Murray. – via Google Books.
  4. "End of era as Terry's site closes". BBC News. 30 September 2005. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  5. "Terry's plans to close York site". BBC News. 19 April 2004. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  6. "York residents quizzed on Terry's future". The Press. 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2008.
  7. "Developer reviews Terry's options". BBC News. 21 November 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2008.
  8. "The Chocolate Works, York". CABE. Archived from the original on 18 January 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  9. Fulcher, Merlin (8 February 2010). "CABE 'unconvinced' but Chocolate Works wins go-ahead". ArchitectsJournal.co.uk. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  10. "Terry's chocolate factory in York starts to be demolished". BBC News. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
  11. "Terry's Chocolate factory in York to become homes". BBC News. 5 June 2015.
  12. "York's landmark chocolate factory clock to tick again". BBC News. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
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