It's Not Terry's, It's Mine!

On our first day in York we went on a City Sightseeing Tour of York which took us past the Old Terry's factory. On the second day I decided that I wanted a closer look. Getting in was too easy, the gate was open and we just walked right up. We could have gotten into the buildings easily too but I'm too chicken. Matt freaked me out and made me think we were going to get attacked by drug dealers and as I only had my camera a few days I wasn't about to chance anything. Turns out I may regret my pussying out...

The building was great. Its such a shame that it is not being used for anything. Its pretty substantial too, there were some parts that were bordered off so we couldnt get too close. We only wadered round for 20 minutes or so because I was getting jittery. What can I say? I'm a girl.

So a little bit of history... Terrys of York (Originally Bayldon & Berrys Confectionary before Joseph Terry married into the family and took sole ownership in 1823) and Rowntrees were two big Quaker families who produced confectionary in York. Terry's originally had a factory in the city, on the site of Clementhorpe next to the River Ouse, but rumor has it Rowntrees bought the land next to it so they couln't expand - Now called Rowntree Park. Consequetly in 1926 Terry's moved their production plant to Bishopthorpe Road in York. It was here in 1931 that the Chocolate Orange was born.

In 1939, during WW2, it was used to manufacture aircraft propellers. After the war it was reverted back to a chocolate factory. In 1975 United Biscuits bought it, then in 1993 American firm Kraft took over the business from Terry's and merged it with Jacobs Suchard forming the Terry's Suchard brand. Finally in 2005 Kraft moved production to Europe, mainly Poland, and closed the factory doors.

Since then it has remained empty. There have been a few attempts to submit planning applications, the most recent, in 2010, being for it to be redeveloped into hundreds of homes and hotels. We visited in mid 2011 and there was no sign of development.