Blue plaque unveiled at Cocoa Works celebrating York's chocolate heritage
A blue plaque has been unveiled at Cocoa Works in York, recognising the site’s role in shaping Britain’s chocolate industry and its pioneering approach to worker welfare.
The plaque was revealed at a ceremony on Friday 10 April, delivered in partnership with York Civic Trust, The Rowntree Society and Nestlé UK. Its design draws on the blue KitKat wrapper introduced during the Second World War, directly referencing the factory’s production history and aligning with York Civic Trust’s long-standing blue plaque programme across the city.
The unveiling brought together a range of local civic and community stakeholders, including the Rt Hon Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Martin Rowley BEM, the Sheriff of York, Paul Doughty, and senior representatives from City of York Council, including Councillor Pete Kilbane, Deputy Leader of the Council, and Councillor Michael Pavlovic, Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities, alongside partners, heritage organisations and former Rowntree employees.
The Rowntree factory on Haxby Road closed in 2006 after more than a century of production. Latimer, the development arm of Clarion Housing Group, has since transformed the building into a £80 million residential development, delivering 279 homes, with 30 per cent affordable housing, while retaining its original character and features.
There is a clear thread connecting the site’s past and present. Joseph Rowntree, who built the factory, and William Sutton, were contemporaries who shared a belief that good housing is fundamental to a good life. While the building has changed purpose, that principle still underpins how it is used today.
At its peak, the factory employed more than 6,000 people and produced some of the country’s best-known brands, including KitKat, Smarties, Aero and Milkybar. York’s reputation as a chocolate city was built in large part here.
The factory was also notable for what happened beyond the production lines. Rowntree’s invested in dining halls, medical provision, education and recreational facilities for its workforce at a time when few employers did, helping to set new standards for industrial working environments.
Michael Briffett, Regional Managing Director at Clarion Housing Group said:
“We’re proud to have brought the Cocoa Works back into use, preserving an important part of York’s heritage while creating much-needed new homes. Through its careful refurbishment, this landmark building continues to reflect the character and history that have shaped the city.”
Duncan Marks, Heritage and Planning Manager at York Civic Trust, said the plaque ensures the site’s contribution remains part of York’s wider story.
The plaque joins York Civic Trust’s broader programme recognising places that have shaped the city, and in this case, an industry that helped define it.