York Historic Environment Record

This Conservation Area was designated in 2007. It encompasses some of the earliest and most distinctive buildings erected in the early 20th century by the Rowntree family, either as part of the Rowntree chocolate factory or for wider public enjoyment. The factory has been a major employer in the city for over 100 years and the Rowntree family has been a major public benefactor. A conservation Area Appraisal was carried out in 2008. The earliest factory building is the Almond Block Extension of 1911, whose decorative brick corner tower next to Haxby Road is a major landmark. Adjoining it is the equally distinctive Cream Block of 1936, which is the largest surviving building on the site, distinguished by the moulded and light-painted render band around its roof. Some buildings in the area are not part of the factory but were built for wider public use such as the Yearsley Baths (originally open-air), rowntree Theatre and Memorial Library. The main elements of the character and appearance of the area are: 1) The self containment of the area, being well defined at the southern end by the railway bridge and at the northern end by the Haleys Terrace roundabout 2) The variety, quality and technical attributes of the various buildings comprising the conservation area 3) The high quality and consistency of planting, boundary treatment and other landscape features, which also unifies the area 4) The creation of a working factory within a humane landscaped environment 5) The association of the area with the Rowntree family, as local benefactors and social reformers of national status 6) The existing role of the area as a valued social and cultural centre in the city