All You Need Is Chocolate & Love

Bishop Monkton's Local History Group recently hosted its last talk of 2025. Member, Chris Shaw, kindly sent this report into the website.

Chris writes, “A large number of members and guests of Bishop Monkton Local History Group attended a fascinating talk by Phil Burton of the National Trust entitled 'Love and Chocolate'.

The Terry’s confectionery business was founded in York in 1767 by Joseph Terry, who was originally an apothecary. Successive generations of the family built up the business and introduced many new products, including the famous Terry’s Chocolate Orange in 1931.

We followed the romance between Noel Terry and his sweetheart Kathleen which triumphed over many obstacles and culminated in a long and happy marriage. They built a lovely house in the Arts and Crafts style near the factory in York which they named 'Goddards'. Many years later Goddards became the National Trust Regional Head Office. Its gardens, and occasionally the house itself, are open to the public on selected dates.

To celebrate the subject, Christmas and the last talk of the year, Terry’s chocolate oranges were handed round to one and all.”