World War 2 breaks out

The Joseph Rowntree Theatre is taken over by the military authorities as a billet for troops. By November 1939, 457 staff have left the Cocoa Works to become involved in various kinds of national service.

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Jean Rowntree

Jean Rowntree – sister to Lawrence – works in Prague, to help Jews, social democrats and others in danger from the Nazi occupation of the Sudetenland.

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The Joseph Rowntree Theatre opens

The Joseph Rowntree Theatre opens in November. At first it is known as the Joseph Rowntree Hall, but this soon changes.

Peter Rowntree becomes one of the Trustees of the firm responsible for the Theatre’s construction and spends much time and care in making it one of the most up-to-date small theatres in the country. It remains a valuable part of York’s cultural life to this day.

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Seebohm warns that peace is fragile

In the December edition of the Cocoa Works Magazine, Seebohm warns Rowntree staff, “If the nations drift into another great war,.. it will be just because the common people like ourselves have been too apathetic, self-absorbed, too indolent to veto .. all that makes for war.”

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Seebohm becomes a Companion of Honour

Seebohm is made a Companion of Honour by George V in the latter’s Birthday Honours. The honour is given in recognition of Seebohms contribution to ‘social services.’

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The Wall Street Crash

Stock exchanges across the world collapse, taking economies with them. By 1930, 2 million men in Britain are registered unemployed. The Cocoa Works Magazine of December that year includes a letter from Seebohm Rowntree, in which he makes clear he understands how workers are being affected: “I know how much there is to discourage..we face a 10^th winter of unemployment..” Poor market conditions mean that even some Rowntrees’ staff are put on short-time working.

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The Cocoa Works becomes ‘County Industries’

As the tide of WW2 turns, the Cocoa Works is very much part of the war effort.

The office block on Haxby Road has been requisitioned by the Royal Army Pay Corps & the Cream Department is reconfigured for the production of munitions, dried egg and Ryvita. The Gum Department is converted into a secret fuse factory, named ‘County Industries’. It employs over 900 staff, who work 12 hour shifts, filling fuses with TNT. This is dangerous work but fortunately there are relatively few accidents.

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Haverford House

Haverford House which had been the home of Frank Rowntree and his family, is leased to the YHA – & is subsequently sold to them.

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York is bombed.

29^th April sees a ‘Baedeker raid’ over York. The Homestead is damaged, plus the Rowntree warehouse in North Street is hit by incendiary bombs and gutted. This building is the oldest part of the original Rowntree factory, having been bought by the company in 1882.

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Kenneth becomes a War Artist

Kenneth Rowntree becomes one of more than 60 British artists commissioned by the government (financed by the Pilgrim Trust) to record the face of England and Wales before wartime destruction changes it beyond recognition.

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