York Historic Environment Record

GV II Clock tower, water tower and boiler house, with attached transformer house, built in 1924-30, with later additions, by J G Davies and L E Wade for Terry's of York. Red brick in English bond with sandstone dressings and parapet. Concrete and asphalt roof, metal framed windows. Tower has six stages and attached buildings have three storeys. Tower has brick angle pilasters with sunk-panel ashlar heads at the fifth stage, and large small-paned sash windows with triple keyed lintels. Top stage has ashlar quoins and a clock face on each side on which the letters TERRY YORK replace numbers. The parapet has large corner blocks with balustrades between. The boiler house and transformer house both have small-pane sashes in plain surrounds, and brick parapets above sandstone eaves bands. Interior: ground floor only; boiler/transformer house still operational with machinery filling the ground floor. HISTORY: Terry's of York began as a confectionary business owned by Bayldon and Berry in 1767 on a site near Bootham Bar. Joseph Terry, connected by marriage to Berry and trained as an apothecary, joined the firm which in 1824 moved to St Helen's Square. By 1830 Terry was the sole owner, and gradually developed the chocolate side of the business. New factory premises were built at Clementhorpe in 1862, to provide better transport links, but continued expansion led to the need for the new premises which were built at Bishopthorpe Road. SUMMARY: This building is one of a group consisting of headquarters offices, factory, clocktower, Time office block and liquor factory, which were all built at the same time. The complex is a strong group in architectural terms, presenting a unified style which reflects the strength and importance of the corporate image of Terry's chocolate firm. The buildings also have a strong historic interest, representing the most complete surviving expression of the importance of the confectionary business in York, and confirming, on a national scale, York's high status in this business. SOURCES: COLBECK, Maurice, 'Made in York', 1992, pp. 23-32. 'Terry's of York 1767-1967', 1967, (Private Publication). 'C. M. W.', Journal of Jos. Rowntree, 1925, (pamplet).


The 41m high Clock Tower was recorded in 2006 ahead the conversion of the factory buildings for residential use. The Clock Tower had a ground floor, four upper floors (Levels 1 to 4), a Water Tower and Roof Access. Each level had a lift and staircase along the west wall, south of the chimney. The clock mechanism is on Level 4, with the
Water Tower above. SYO1246

2005, Kraft Foods UK Limited Building Survey Report Terry’s Site, York (Unpublished document). SYO1528.

MAP, 2006, Terry's Factory Bishopthorpe Road (Unpublished document). SYO1246.