Joseph Rowntree Memorial Library

Library, 1927, designed by Fred Rowntree.

Built from red brick laid in raking stretcher bond with slate roofs and stone dressings, the library comprises three single-storey bays flanking a two-storey central bay with a projecting gable to the front, all under pitched roofs.

The front elevation features a central projecting bay with an entrance framed by white stone pilasters and consoles supporting a plain architrave and cornice. The door is half-glazed with leaded lights beneath a rectangular fanlight. Above sits a Venetian window with stone dressings. Ground-floor windows flank the projecting bay, with three round-arched windows to either side. Each gable end contains a large round-arched window with multiple small panes and leading. The gables are raised throughout. The rear elevation has raised and smaller rectangular windows with leading, except for a central stair window. An attached brick building of later date covers the approach to a subway beneath the library and road, which formerly led to the Rowntrees factory dining block; this addition is not of special interest.

The interior opens through a small vestibule with double glazed inner doors into the main library space, which features six exposed trusses with queen posts rising from the floor and pegged joints, finished in dark stained wood elsewhere in pale varnish. Panelling around the inner doors includes an inscribed panel reading "THIS LIBRARY IS ERECTED AS A MEMORIAL TO / JOSEPH ROWNTREE 1836-1925 / IN GRATITUDE FOR A LIFE OF DEVOTED SERVICE." Integral wooden umbrella racks stand to either side of the inner doors, beyond which are doors to storage and staff rooms. Original fitted bookcases line the side walls, continuing to the rear and between windows at the front. A recent reception desk occupies the right end with a central rear door.

A wooden staircase with balusters and handrail leads to the first floor, a single room separated by a wooden panelled partition. Dedication panels read "A NUMBER OF / BOOKS IN THIS / ROOM ARE FROM / JOSEPH / ROWNTREE'S / PERSONAL LIBRARY / PRESENTED TO THE / COCOA WORKS BY / HIS CHILDREN" and "THIS BUILDING / WAS ERECTED BY / ROWNTREE & Co Ltd / AND ITS INTERIOR / DECORATIONS WERE / PROVIDED BY THE / EMPLOYEES AS A / MEMORIAL TO / JOSEPH / ROWNTREE." Fitted magazine racks and cupboards line the side walls and beneath the Venetian window.

The library stands at the eastern side of the large Nestle Rowntree factory complex in York, facing Haxby Road away from the main factory but accessible from the rear of the factory site.

Built in 1927 to commemorate Joseph Rowntree, the library formerly housed the company library previously located within the factory itself. Fred Rowntree, who maintained an architectural practice at Scarborough, Glasgow and London at various times and designed several factory buildings, created this library as his only surviving documented architectural work. The building remains owned by Nestle but is now operated by City of York Council as part of its public library service. It survives as an intact and unaltered inter-war library with strong associations to the nationally important figure of Joseph Rowntree, retaining numerous original fittings and fixtures of high quality and representing an unaltered example of Arts and Crafts inspired architecture.