Terrys Of York Head Offices

Head office building for Terry's of York chocolate manufacturers, built between 1924 and 1930, designed by architects J G Davies and L E Wade. The building is constructed of red brick in English Bond with sandstone ashlar dressings, featuring two storeys with a roof of north lights surrounded by concrete and ashlar. It is executed in the Baroque Revival style.

The facade facing Bishopthorpe Road displays a centre entrance with panelled double doors and overlight, sheltered by a distyle in antis porch with Doric columns, all in ashlar. Above this, French doors on the first floor are framed by an elaborate pedimented triple-key surround with a balustraded balcony. Five windows occupy each side, comprising six-over-six vertical sashes set in architraves. Those on the ground floor have alternating triangular and segmental pediments, whilst first floor windows are topped with cornices. Slightly projecting end blocks of sandstone ashlar feature quoin strips of alternating bands of brick and ashlar. Each block contains a central six-over-six sash flanked by narrow four-over-four sashes, the central first floor windows embellished with Doric pilasters, triangular pediments, and corbelled balustraded balconies. A parapet conceals the roof, stepped above the end blocks, and rises in the centre to an attic decorated with a festooned cartouche. The left and right returns, which face the entrance road, are identical in design, each featuring a centrepiece between seven window ranges and end blocks repeating the front facade design. The centrepiece is constructed of ashlar with angle pilasters and three six-over-six windows on each floor, divided by quoin strips of alternating brick and sandstone. The parapet above is finished with urns positioned over the quoin strips.

The interior plan comprises a central double-height space surrounded on all four sides by ground and first floor corridors and offices facing outward. The original entrance, no longer in use, consists of an entrance lobby leading to a broad hallway with a tiled floor. A grand staircase rises from the centre rear of the hall with a splayed lower flight, wrought iron balusters, square wooden newels and handrail. The staircase bifurcates from a central landing into two flights with quarter turns, leading to higher landings. A wood-panelled reception area stands to the right of and partly beneath the stair, with corridors branching to each side. A central cupola above the hallway features coloured glass and ironwork. The ceiling is coffered with dentillated cornices and glass panels.

Half-height wood-panelled corridors branch from the hallway around the building, enclosing a central large open double-height office space. This space features a glass-panelled barrel-vaulted ceiling with dentillated cornices, positioned below the roof with north lights. The space is partly partitioned with glass and wooden screens, these partitions being non-original. The walls are panelled with pilasters at the corners and semi-circular windows at each end on the first floor. The corridors contain original double doors at intervals fitted with decorative glass panels. Offices and other rooms on the outer side of the corridor all feature oak-panelled doors with eared architraves and original wooden-framed windows. Room finishes vary in architectural detail: the manager's room and boardroom possess decorated plaster ceilings, classically moulded cornices, and waist-high wainscotting, whilst other offices are plainer. The boardroom additionally features a triangular pediment over a plain frieze above the main door, and consoles supporting a cornice above another. First floor rooms are generally of lower status. Original washbasins and wood and glass screens survive in lavatories.

Terry's of York began as a confectionery business owned by Bayldon & Berry in 1767 on a site near Bootham Bar. Joseph Terry, related by marriage to Berry and trained as an apothecary, joined the firm, which relocated in 1724 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 constructed at Clementhorpe in 1862 to provide better transport links, but continued expansion necessitated new premises at Bishopthorpe Road.

This building forms part of a larger group including headquarters offices, factory, clocktower, Time office block and liquor factory, all constructed simultaneously. The complex presents a strong architectural group with unified style, reflecting the corporate image and strength of Terry's chocolate firm. The buildings possess significant historic interest, representing the most complete surviving expression of the importance of the confectionery business in York and confirming, on a national scale, York's high status in this industry.