The Rowntree Society

19/08/2026

Here at The Rowntree Society, our purpose is to build and share knowledge about the histories of the Rowntree family, company and Trusts and their continuing relevance to the local, national and global challenges facing the world today.

Everything we do is guided by 6 core values:

📚 Learning: We value historical exploration as a tool for navigating contemporary issues.

🔎 Rigour: We undertake and promote evidence-based historical research.

🤝 Community: We root our work in a commitment to the value of community.

🌍 Inclusiveness: We uphold the value of exploring the histories of under-represented and marginalised people.

💙 Collaboration: Working with others is at the heart of our work.

🗣️ Openness: We are transparent in our work and communications.

These values shape our research, events, partnerships and the stories we share, helping us connect the Rowntree legacy with conversations that continue to matter today.

You can find out more about us on our website: https://www.rowntreesociety.org.uk/

If you've recently discovered The Rowntree Society, we'd love to know what interests you most about the Rowntree story.

17/08/2026

Discover the story behind one of York's most iconic locations with our Haxby Road Rowntree Walk.

This self-guided walk takes you around the former Rowntree factory site (now Nestlé York), exploring the people, places and innovations that helped shape both the company and the city. Along the way you'll uncover stories about Rowntree Halt, the Chocolate Factory, the Joseph Rowntree Memorial Library, the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, Yearsley Swimming Pool and more.

The walk takes around 1 hour from the city centre and is packed with fascinating history, from pioneering employee welfare and architecture to wartime stories and the legacy that continues in York today.

If you're interested in York's heritage or simply want to see the city from a different perspective, it's a great way to explore the Rowntree story at your own pace.

You can find out more about the Haxby Road Rowntree Walk via our website: https://www.rowntreesociety.org.uk/explore-rowntree-history/rowntree-walks-in-york/

Have you ever explored this part of York? Let us know your favourite stop along the route.

14/08/2026

Did you know Rowntree’s once made chocolate using cocoa grown in York?

You might have spotted a rather exciting chocolate story in the news this week!

Researchers at the University of Reading have created chocolate using entirely British-grown ingredients, including cocoa!

But it isn’t the first time cocoa has been successfully grown in Britain and turned into chocolate!

94 years ago, Rowntree’s had its own greenhouse in the grounds of the York factory, where cocoa beans were grown. The chocolates were gifted to 6 year old Princess Elizabeth!

The photograph here shows Rowntree’s cocoa trees growing in the greenhouse behind the Dining Block at the Haxby Road site.

It’s great to see this piece of Rowntree’s history being talked about again all of this time later!

Had you heard this story before? 🍫

Image: Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York

14/08/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Refugees & Rowntrees.

It was a privilege to bring together speakers, community members and local organisations to explore the stories of people who sought refuge in York, and the role that members of the Rowntree family, company and Trusts played in supporting them across the twentieth century.

If you missed the event, or would like to revisit some of the discussions, we've shared the highlights on our YouTube channel.

You can watch it through the Youtube link in our bio.

12/08/2026

The acquisition of Rowntree Mackintosh by Nestlé in 1988 marked one of the most significant moments in the company's history.

Before then, Rowntree Mackintosh had expanded internationally by acquiring confectionery businesses, including the French company Menier in 1971 and Hoadley's Chocolates of Australia in 1972. The company also invested heavily in modernising its manufacturing facilities and developing production for several of its leading global brands.

An earlier takeover attempt by the American company General Foods in 1969 was successfully resisted, largely because the Joseph Rowntree Trusts held a controlling interest in the company's shares and were committed to the long-term future of the business.

By 1988, however, the Trusts' shareholding had reduced as the company's value increased and some shares had been sold. Nestlé's final offer was recommended by the Rowntree Mackintosh board. The government chose not to refer the proposed takeover to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, arguing that protecting UK companies was not in the public interest. Contemporary government papers also suggest that political considerations may have influenced the decision.

The takeover changed the future of one of York's most famous companies, while many of the brands created under Rowntree continue to be produced today.
Did you know about the events leading up to the 1988 takeover?

10/08/2026

Want to learn more about the people, places and ideas that shaped the Rowntree story?

Our Rowntree A-Z is an online encyclopaedia containing nearly 200 entries, covering everything from members of the Rowntree family and the chocolate company to New Earswick, social reform, philanthropy and much more.

Visit the Rowntree A-Z and see what you discover: https://www.rowntreesociety.org.uk/explore-rowntree-history/rowntree-a-z/

Have you explored the A-Z before? Let us know which entry you found most interesting!

10/08/2026

Listen here: https://www.balh.org.uk/podcast

In our latest episode of , we are joined the Executive Director of the Rowntree Society, Nick Smith, to learn more about the organisation.

Listen to all episodes: https://www.balh.org.uk/podcast



https://www.facebook.com/therowntreesociety/

07/08/2026

If you couldn't join us for Refugees & Rowntrees, you can now catch the highlights on our YouTube channel.

Hosted at The Mount School as part of Refugee Week, the event explored how the Rowntree family, company, Trusts and The Mount School supported refugees during the twentieth century.

From Belgian refugees during the First World War to Jean and Tessa Rowntree's humanitarian work in Prague and the resettlement of Ugandan Asian refugees in York, the event brought together historical research, community stories and local heritage.

You can watch it through the link to Youtube in our bio.

06/08/2026

When people think of the Rowntree family, they often think of chocolate, social reform and philanthropy. But did you know they also owned newspapers?

As part of our Rowntree Political Connections and Influences project, we collaborated with the University of York's Institute for Public Understanding of the Past to explore this lesser-known chapter of Rowntree history. The research was undertaken by Charlotte Vallis during an internship in summer 2025.

The article explores why Joseph Rowntree became involved in newspaper ownership, how the family's political interests influenced these ventures, and the challenges they faced balancing editorial independence, political aims and financial pressures in the early twentieth century. It also examines the role of Arnold Rowntree, The Nation newspaper, and the wider influence of the Liberal press during this period.

It's a fascinating insight into an aspect of the Rowntree legacy that is far less well known than their work in business and social reform.

Read the full article on our website: https://www.rowntreesociety.org.uk/newspapers-as-a-political-tool/

Did you know about the Rowntrees' involvement in newspaper publishing? Let us know in the comments.

04/08/2026

Whether you're researching a family member who worked for Rowntree, exploring York's rich history, or studying the family's wider impact, knowing where to begin can be overwhelming.

Our research guide brings together some of the key archives and collections relating to the Rowntree family and company, helping researchers, students, local historians, writers and anyone with an interest in York's history find reliable sources.

You can access the research guide on our website: https://www.rowntreesociety.org.uk/explore-rowntree-history/researching-rowntree/

Have you ever researched your own family history or a local history topic? We'd love to hear about it in the comments.