Joseph Rowntree: 1836 – 1925
Philanthropist; progressive employer; radical thinker; social innovator: “he loved to do good by stealth”
Images: From originals held at The Borthwick Institute for Archives.
The Rowntree Legacy: Quaker faith
The Rowntrees’ Quaker faith emphasised quiet service, public responsibility, civic pride, pragmatism and trustworthiness. Rowntrees played a leading role in shaping the character of York Quakerism, which developed a liberal reforming strand within the national tradition. Their faith also inspired their philanthropic and civic activities both in York and beyond inspiring them to undertake useful work and to strive to improve the lot of their fellow men and women.
The Rowntree Legacy: The Joseph Rowntree Trusts
The Rowntree trusts – the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF); the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) and the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust (JRRT) – are perhaps Joseph’s greatest legacy and certainly the most visible aspect of his philanthropic activities here in the 21st century.
The Rowntree name as a chocolate and confectionery manufacturer is now starting to fade from public memory but the trusts still continue their work to effect social change. In his Founder’s Memorandum Joseph postulated a longevity of 35 years for the JRCT and JRRT stating that “If the enormous volume of the philanthropy of the present day were wisely directed it would, I believe, in the course of a few years, change the face of England.”
Many things have changed for the better since these words were written in 1904 but there is still work to do and all three Trusts continue their mission and take their inspiration from Joseph Rowntree.
The Rowntree Legacy; Pioneering Interest in Design and Architecture
Perhaps one of the lesser known but nonetheless significant parts of the Rowntree legacy is their interest in design and architecture. The enduring built environment they pioneered in York survives in something like its original state – New Earswick; Yearsley Swimming Baths; Joseph Rowntree Theatre; Joseph Rowntree Memorial Library; Rowntree Park; The Homestead and some parts of the Haxby Road factory all continue to form tangible evidence of enduring good design. Seebohm Rowntree was a one time president of the Design and Industries Association.
The Rowntree Legacy: Economic Contribution to York
York today might not be the same city without the Rowntree presence. The growth of the confectionery business was one of the catalysts for the city’s development from workshop based manufacturing to large factories, of which the Cocoa Works was a state of the art example.
Together with its subsidiary buildings and railway siding the factory complex was almost a small town in its own right. Alongside York’s growing identity as a railway town during the nineteenth century and fellow York based confectioners, Terrys and Cravens, today’s city has been indelibly shaped by chocolate and the railways.
Image: From originals held at The Borthwick Institute for Archives.
The Retreat
Joseph gave lifelong service to The Retreat, a hospital created by William Tuke and pioneering in its approach to mental health. Joseph was appointed a member of the Committee of Management in 1863, retiring in 1905 after 42 years of service. “It was his constant aim and endeavour to maintain the historical reputation of the Retreat as a Hospital for the most enlightened treatment for those suffering from mental illness.” Extract from the Minute of the Retreat Committee on Joseph’s death.
Joseph Rowntree Memorial Library
Joseph started a library for employees in 1885 believing it was important for people to use their leisure time in a positive and creative way. He had a lifelong love of books, read extensively throughout his life and liked to discuss books with his children and encourage them to read. The development of a staff library was the first step towards the creation of a large number of clubs and societies to support staff in education and well-being. Joseph also helped to create York City Library, now York Explore Library and Archive with branches across the city. It is a fitting memorial to Joseph that the Joseph Rowntree Memorial Library was built at the Cocoa Works, opening in 1927 and housing over 10,000 books. The library was designed by Colin Rowntree, son of Fred, and is an Arts and Crafts building which retains a large number of fixtures and fittings of high quality.
Image: York Explore
The Mount School
The Friends’ Girls school was first established in 1785 by prominent Quakers, Esther and William Tuke, who wanted to provide a good quality education for Quaker children. The school moved to The Mount – where it remains to this day – in 1857. Pupils have included the daughters of many leading Quaker families including the Tukes, Cadburys and Rowntrees. Both Jean Rowntree and her sister, Tony, were pupils.
Continuing Education
Joseph’s belief in the importance of education extended to his employees. The formal education of young women and men ended at the age of 14 when they would go out to work but Joseph believed that they should continue to receive some education after this time. In 1913 spacious schoolrooms and gymnasia were opened in a large building opposite the factory and compulsory classes arranged for young employees of both sexes in factory hours including maths, English and physical fitness.
Image: From originals held at the Borthwick Institute for Archives.
Clifton Lodge
Clifton Lodge House was built in 1852 and is where Joseph lived for the last years of his life from 1905 to 1925 and where he died. He built the adjoining house – Rawcliffe Holt – in 1907 for his daughter, Winifred, and her husband, Arthur Duncan Naish. After Joseph’s death both properties were left to the Rowntree trusts. Clifton Lodge was sold into private hands in 2011.
Image: From originals held at the Borthwick Institute for Archives.
Rowntree Park
Rowntree Park was presented as a gift to the people of York by Joseph in 1921 as a memorial to the members of the Cocoa Works’ staff who fell in World War 1. In Joseph’s words this was to be a ‘quiet, restful memorial park’ rather than ‘another stone obelisk’. The architects were Fred Rowntree and W J Swain. The park was divided into formal and informal areas to reflect the Rowntree belief that facilities were available for all. The park is now owned and managed by York City Council and has an active group of supporters, who undertake much of the day to day maintenance – The Friends of Rowntree Park.
Yearsley Swimming Baths
The “New Yearsley Baths” were opened in 1909 and were gifted to the City of York by Joseph. It was a condition of his gift that admission should be free. The baths were designed by Fred Rowntree and were originally the Rowntree company swimming pool. Initially they were open air. The baths are now known as Yearsley Swimming Pool and are still in use by York residents today. Admission is no longer free but, fittingly, they are now owned by GLL, a charitable social enterprise.
Fred Rowntree
Fred Rowntree was a member of the Scarborough branch of the Rowntree family. He was an architect and closely associated with the Arts and Crafts movement. He played a key role in creating the enduring built environment in York pioneered by the family and was involved in design and building projects at the Cocoa Works; the Homestead; Rowntree Park; Yearsley Swimming Baths and Bootham and the Mount Schools. His company were also appointed architects to the West China Union University in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
New Earswick Primary School
New Earswick Primary School formally opened in 1912. The pioneering design is spacious, light and airy with large south facing windows in line with the contemporary idea for open air schools. As with the rest of New Earswick, the school was designed by Parker and Unwin. The curriculum was based on the belief, strongly held by Joseph, that reading at an early age offers the best opportunity for children to learn for themselves. Boys and girls followed the same curriculum which was an innovative approach at the time. The school is still in use today, a testament to the good and enduring design promoted by the Rowntrees.
New Earswick Folk Hall
The Folk Hall occupied a prominent position at the centre of the village in planning for New Earswick. As the population grew there was a need for a meeting place that would form the centre of village social and religious life. Building began in 1906 and was completed in 1907 providing a multiuse space that could host a range of community activities and pastimes, including village stage productions for which it was fully equipped. An extension in the form of a hall was built in 1935 to enable the building to cater for larger events. Following a large-scale refurbishment in 2017, which opened up spaces whilst respecting the original Arts and Crafts design features, the Folk Hall continues to function as a busy community venue with a post office, library, café and space for professional meetings and events.
New Earswick
Joseph was able to turn his attention to another great issue that preoccupied him once the Cocoa Works was built and increasing in prosperity. He wanted to make a contribution to solving the housing problem. In 1901 a 150 acre site was purchased at New Earswick, two miles outside York and close to the Haxby Road factory, for £6000. Renowned Arts and Crafts architects, Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin were appointed in 1902. Their plan for the village implemented many of the ideas of the Garden Cities Association. These were to provide open green spaces and community facilities as well as houses. Joseph’s aim was to improve workers’ living conditions and help workers leave insanitary houses in the city which possessed some notable slums. Houses were available to workers in general, not simply to Rowntree employees. The village became a blueprint for other garden suburbs in the country and the vision that lay behind it still attracts international attention today.
Allotments Movement
By the end of the nineteenth century providing space for allotments was known to be an effective way to tackle poverty. Allotmenteering was viewed positively by the upper classes as a form of ‘self-help’ rather than charity. Many landholders gifted land for this purpose. The Rowntrees followed this approach; generous provision for allotment land was made in their plans for New Earswick. The outbreak of the First World War brought new impetus as Britain was heavily dependent on food imports. The Rowntrees realised the implications of potential shortages and increased the amount of space available for allotments. In 1917 they also permitted women to become allotment holders, a progressive step which recognised the reality for many York families whose men were away fighting. At the end of the war more space was made available for soldiers returning so that they and female staff would not be competing. Other landowners, however, decided to reclaim the space that had been requisitioned during the war. Concerns about the impact of climate change, food provenance and security and interest in organic produce has led to the revival of interest in allotments since the 1990s and the National Allotments Society continues to represent the interests of UK allotment holders today.
The Borthwick Institute for Archives
The Borthwick Institute for Archives holds the largest collection of Rowntree archives in the world. These include records relating to the Rowntree company, family, Trusts and theatre as well as records relating to the family’s social research. The archives include letters and diaries; minute books; accounts; magazines; advertisements; audio and video recordings and photographs. The Borthwick was founded as part of the campaign to establish a university in York. The Borthwick Institute of Historical Research was the first of the institutes to be opened in May 1953 and it became a department of the university when it opened in 1963. The Borthwick moved to its current location adjacent to the Raymond Burton Library at the centre of the university campus in 2004 and opened to the public in January 2005.
University of York
The campaign to found a university in York began in the 1940s and was insitigated by the same men who founded York Civic Trust in 1946. John Bowes Morrell, and Oliver Sheldon, both directors of Rowntree & Co, played key roles in the campaign. In March 1961 The JRRT/JRSST promised £150,000; the JRMT £100,000 and Rowntree and Co. Ltd promised £100,000 in grants payable over the first ten years of the university’s existence to assist it’s foundation. The JRSST/JRRT also made a separate gift to the university of Heslington Hall and its gardens and grounds – 17 acres in total. Several other company directors and trustees have held positions of responsibility in the University. A building in Social Sciences is named after Seebohm Rowntree.
The Homestead, Homestead Park and the Garden House
The Homestead is an Arts and Crafts house built by Seebohm Rowntree as his family home. The architect was Fred Rowntree, second cousin to Seebohm and a noted architect .In 1935 Seebohm directed his second poverty study of York , Progress and Poverty published in 1941, from here. On his departure the house was sold to the Joseph Rowntree Village Trust on condition that the gardens be maintained as a public park. Peter Rowntree, Seebohm’s son and a Rowntree company director, lived there as the trust’s tenant until 1978, following which the house was converted to the head office of Rowntree Mackintosh Ltd. In 1988 when Nestle took over Rowntree Mackintosh, the company offices moved back to Haxby Road and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation moved its main office into the Homestead. All three of the Rowntree trusts now have their offices on this site. The JRF continue to own and manage the gardens of Homestead Park as a public space.
Northern Echo, Westminster Press, The Nation
Joseph’s concern about journalistic standards led to the Rowntree’s acquiring newspapers, primarily through the Social Services Trust. Arnold, Joseph’s nephew, led the Rowntree family foray into newspaper ownership. Their objective was not to establish profit making enterprises but to give a voice to a more Liberal point of view: to create opportunities for influence; and to address concerns about journalistic standards. Arnold became chairman of the Northern Echo, Sheffield Independent and Yorkshire Gazette, regional papers which campaigned on social reform, local government and housing conditions. This group evolved into the Westminster Press. Arnold was one of the group of Liberals who founded The Nation, a small but influential and respected publication which later merged with the New Statesman. Huge losses on two national newspapers owned by the Rowntrees meant that they were quickly sold.
Image: From originals held at the Borthwick Institute for Archives.
Joseph’s attitude to newspaper ownership
“Perhaps the greatest danger of our national life arises from the power of selfish and unscrupulous wealth which influences public opinion largely through the press (e.g. the Opium and Drink traffic, and the South African War). If the funds permitted, and the Directors of the Social Services Trust were equal to the task, it would be quite in accordance with my wish that they should control, by purchase or otherwise, a newspaper or newspapers, conducting them not with a primary view to profit but with the object of influencing public thought in right channels.” Joseph Rowntree, The Founder’s Memorandum, 1904, on the potential remit of the Social Services Trust.
Image: From originals held at the Borthwick Institute for Archives.
Joseph Rowntree Theatre
Joseph Rowntree Theatre was designed by the architect Barry Parker (who, with Raymond Unwin, designed New Earswick) and built in 1935. It was commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Village Trust for the workers of the Cocoa Works factory and stands opposite the original factory building. Peter Rowntree (son of Seebohm Rowntree) worked with the architects to ensure that the theatre was as well equipped as any at that time. The new Art Deco building provided a home for The Rowntree Players amateur theatre group which had been formed in 1912 and continued the tradition of established theatre as a recreational activity within the Rowntree community, including at the Folk Hall in New Earswick. Still active today and still the home of The Rowntree Players, the Joseph Rowntree Theatre Limited became a registered charity in 2003.
Image: From originals held at the Borthwick Institute for Archives.
York Gala Balloon
Joseph had a calm temperament and a kind attitude towards others. Guided by his Quaker faith he treated others as equals and encouraged them to address him by his first name. The memorial issue of the Cocoa Works Magazine describes an occasion when he discovered a large number of staff on the roof of the factory waiting for the balloon to go up on York Gala Day. He saw the humour of the situation saying “If the overlookers overlook it, I shall overlook it!
Image: York Explore