You would never expect to find any connection between a Chocolate Orange and some fine furniture, yet Noel Terry – a relative of Joseph Terry who set up a famous chocolate factory in York – spent his lifetime collecting exquisite Georgian clocks and furniture.
Terry’s factory is no more: it’s now ‘The Chocolate Works’ housing development. All Gold Chocolate boxes and Chocolate Oranges do still get made but many miles away from York. However, you can see the furniture collection at Fairfax House, which was restored to its Georgian splendour by York Civic Trust in 1979 after years as a cinema and dance hall. It was originally purchased for Anne Fairfax in the 1760’s by her devoted father so that she could enjoy ‘the season’ going to dances with her friends at Burlington’s Assembly Rooms, promenading by the river on New Walk or hosting afternoon tea and hot chocolate parties in her elegant stuccoed drawing room.
Noel Terry wanted his furniture to be in the right Georgian setting and Fairfax House is one of the finest Georgian town houses in England. York’s chocolate heritage is celebrated at York Chocolate Story and their special exhibition ‘250 years of Terrys’ starts on 17th March 2017. York Castle Museum is opening a new sweet shop on their Victorian cobbled street this Easter too.
Louise Fawn is based in York and leads a variety of walks around York.
