Comments on: Rowntree’s and razor wire

By: Lisa @YorkStories

Lisa @YorkStories — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 22:09:28 +0000

Thanks for your comments on this. I think it has to be said that Nestle did tidy up the site in the past when concerns were raised, and as mentioned above, they’ve done a fine job with the factory clocks. I thought about trying to contact them directly, and also the council, but it seemed appropriate just to note and photograph and record it here, to add to what is now a small collection of pages and many photos going back some years. I’m glad you’ve contacted them Deborah, let’s see if there’s a positive outcome from that.

I’m surprised this hasn’t been mentioned elsewhere, perhaps it has been. Clearly there’s a lot of feeling still about Rowntree’s and the Rowntree legacy, as there should be. But this site seems to be ‘at risk’, so I hope a solution and a suitable reuse can be found soon.

By: Deborah Roberts

Deborah Roberts — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 19:56:37 +0000

I decided to go for the direct route today and phoned and was put through to Nestles Head of Property on Haxby Road.
Explained my concerns as well as my background past and present.
I told him that there was no excuse for the dereliction of duty to maintain the general fabric and areas around certainly the Haxby Road entrance.
And that its present state was a bad reflection on Nestles who could do well to understand they still have a duty as the area is within a conservation area as well as the history of care for community in its Quaker past.
I hope the message sunk in as I did explain that failure to act might require the matter to be taken further or elsewhere.
We will see , he did indicate that plans were afoot though no details given.
Security might have been an issue but trashing the site is not a solution.

By: Elizabeth Hardcastle

Elizabeth Hardcastle — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 18:46:18 +0000

It is so depressing to see what has happened to Rowntrees, a once great philanthropic business. Its Quaker principles now long gone. Years ago I found an article on the internet about how Rowntrees looked after its workers at the turn of the century, particularly the women workers. Why are the Cabinet papers about the take-over of Rowntrees not available? Cadburys seems to have gone down a similar road as well as Terrys. Why do we allow our businesses to be sold abroad?

By: drake

drake — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 10:08:36 +0000

Shameful.Nestle should be locked up.

By: Trev;

Trev; — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 00:01:31 +0000

I agree with Deborah my father worked at Rowntrees for 50+ years and was proud of it. It is a shame the building has been left to deteriorate like this. York City council should do some thing about it. There is a saying’What the eye does not see the heart does not grieve’ York City Council do something.

By: Deborah Roberts

Deborah Roberts — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 15:48:15 +0000

Nestles should be shamed into acting to remove the barbed wire and then once again take on the task of maintenance of the entrance to the Cocoa Works .
They are a multinational company , worth no doubt billions in both financial and holdings .
The cost of regular clearance of weeds , plants etc and bringing at least some resemblance of its past glory would be like a midge bite to this company.
As for the City Council, what on earth are they playing at allowing all this , its a severe dereliction of its duties and powers ( I myself am an elected district councillor so know the pressure they should be putting on the owners to comply with conservation area rules )
If I recall the leadership is of those who would normally be recalling the efforts of the past workers and who should be expected to be fighting to retain the dignity and ethos of these fine building not let them be trashed and neglected ( I’m an Independent )
My father worked there most of his adult life and was for many years employed as a brickies labourer , he therefore helped to build many of the buildings , he would be horrified at its present state.