Rowntrees Wharf

Originally one of the largest flour mills in Europe, it was founded by Henry Leetham in 1860. The building, designed by Walter Penty, was situated between the river Foss and Wormald’s cut, towering over the slum district of Hungate. It was supplied with grain by barge to the original mill, situated where a car park is today, just across the river. The mill and associated buildings spanned the river Foss by way of a four storey bridge which was chiefly wood built, fortunately as it turned out because in 1930 a fire broke out in the buildings and silos across the river from this building destroying those structures and the bridge adjoining them which dropped into the river. The mill, being of brick structure was thereby saved.

In 1935 it became the Rowntree and Co’s Navigation Warehouse. Gradually it fell out of use, as road transport replaced river transport. Cocoa beans were brought to the wharf until the 1960s. In 1989 it was converted into flats and offices by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation where I used to work.

The silver bridge crossing the Foss is a pretty new one enabling pedestrian and cycle access to the Hungate area and the rest of York.