The nineteenth and twentieth centuries saw the development of two main industries in York, railway engineering and confectionery. Come the twenty first century one of those industries, major construction for the railways, is no more and two of the three major confectionery producers, Cravens and Terry's, have disappeared. Confectionery manuafacture, however, still represents a significant source of employment in the city. Rowntrees, now part of the Nestlé empire, continues, although much of that company's production has been reduced and exported elsewhere. Trebor Bassett, Monkhill Confectionery and the Blackpool based company Tangerine Confectionery have maufacturing operations in Lower Poppleton Lane area once the home of Cravens.
1960s saw the building of York University based on Heslington Hall. New and diverse businesses have been attracted to the city and of course the tourism industry flourishes as never before.
Below is a small selection of views of York in the 21st century.
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Chocolate and confectionary
Dominating a large area to the north of the centre of York is one of the great confectionary and chocolate factories. Rowntrees have been in existence for over one hundred years before moving to this site
In contrast the Terry's factory stands forlorn deserted. The site has been bought by developers and is expected to become a hotel and apartment complex. Started as a confectionary and grocery business in 1767 Terry's of York was set up after a move to St Helen's Square in 1824. Cocoa and chocolate production was started in a factory in Clementhorpe in 1886 and was subsequently moved to a new factory (seen right) in the early 20th century.
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Rowntrees (now Nestlé) factory |
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Terry's factory |
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The Carriage Works
As we have said in rail.html railways have since the mid 19th century formed an important part of the development of the city.So much so that large railway engineering works were established building, in particular, wagons and carriages for the operating companies. At it's peek many thousands of men were employed at the Holgate Road site but now the Works are no more having closed in 1996, then given a brief respite before being closed for good in 2002. Modern flats and offices now stand in it's place. |
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Building at the entrance to what was the Carriage Works
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Modern offices where once the tracks stood
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Commercial life
Despite the dying manufacturing sector the city continues to enjoy both a significant level of commercial business and of course the tourism industry continues to grow.
The Yorkshire Insurance Co which began life in the early 19th century with a head office in St Helen's Square was subsequently taken over by Norwich Union. That company continued to expand it's presence in York and the imposing building to the left, on the banks of the Ouse at Lendal Bridge, stands testament to the city's commercial well being.
The Maltings pub (right) survives cheek by jowl with modern office blocks |
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Retail shopping
That the economy of York is thriving is clearly demonstrated by the growth of retailing. Out of town shopping can be found at Monks Cross and Clifton Moor parts of which can be seen left and right respectively. Regrettably these centres of consumerism have a direct impact on the businesses in the centre of York many of which have been given over to cater for the tourist trade
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Many of the shops in the centre of the city which catered for the needs of the local population are no more. Names such as Cussens and Light and House and Son (brown and white electrical goods), Wrights (butchers), Whitby Oliver and Hunter and Smallpage (furniture), Leake and Thorpe (department store) and Newitts (sports goods) no longer have a presence on the high street.
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The University
One of the most important indications of the city coming of age was the establishment of the University. Built around Heslington Hall (far left) to the north east of the city, the University opened it's doors to the first students in 1963. Since that time it has expanded it's current site and has many additional locations across the city and beyond.
The photograph (near left) demonstrates the juxtaposition of the old and new buildings. The love of utilitarian concrete of the 1960s is clearly evident in the early buildings on the campus. Thankfully this has been overtaken in later constructions.
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The University is currently home to over 10,000 students from the UK and across the world. |
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Tourism
The tourism industry makes a significant contribution to the economy of York with people coming from all over the globe to see what our beautiful city has to offer. However questions must be asked about how we cater for them. Parliament Street for instance (left), once the home to a thriving market now regularly plays host to fun fairs, perhaps more at home in a seaside resort, although in fairness continental markets do regularly appear.
To the right a bus standing before the Castle Museum. A garish mixture of old and new. |
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The Minster, the Walls and the Museums are principal targets for our visitors. The Jorvic Centre detailing life in Viking times is also a must see. Here visitors can experience Viking history on the very site where archaeologists discovered the remains of the Viking city of Jorvik journeying back in time to a reconstruction of York in the year AD 975, complete with the sights, sounds and smells of the Viking-Age!
Catering establishments and pubs proliferate the city and the visitor can take a pick of many places to stay with many making York a base for exploring further afield.
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Museums
York boasts a number of renowned museums. The most famous of which is probably the National Railway Museum said to be the largest railway museum in the world. Photographs of a small section of the massive number of the exhibits to be found in the museum can be found in the Rail Section of the site.
The Railway Museum is a fantastic place to visit even if you have little interest in trains but as we have said elsewhere the city of York's later history is tightly bound up with the railways
(Note. The photo on the left was taken before the Wheel was removed)
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Please do not be put off by the photographs of the entrances to the museum which belie the contents. They are included partly as a plea to the City Fathers to bring about some dramatic improvements in the approaches to this internationally respected museum. Visitors on foot to 'The largest railway museum in the world' approach through a dingy tunnel and it's scruffy out buildings do not do the museum justice.
A number of cities have London in having rotating observation wheels. To the right was York's example but this has now been dismantled.
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Horse Racing
Horse racing remains very popular with regular meetings on the historic Knavesmire where once the town gallows stood
Founded in 1731 the Knavesmire hosts 15 meetings in the year.
The Ebor Festival takes place in August. The Ebor Handicap, one of the most famous races of the Festival was first run in 1843 and is now the feature race on the Wednesday of the meeting.
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The River Ouse
As can be seen in The Romans the city of York (as Eboracum) was established at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss, the Ouse being the greater river. Until the coming of the railways the rivers provided significant trading routes but thereafter their commercial use declined. They nevertheless remain to provide attractive leisure facilities for residents and visitors alike.
Despite modern technology the Ouse is still subject to occasional serious flooding as can be seen below left and right. However this does not detract from the attractive views of the river which is now crossed by a beautiful new footbridge built to mark the millennium
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