It’s a bit chocolate boxy! Remembering how we used to eat

And it was not just the chocolates which delighted folk across the nation, but also the elaborate and tasteful boxes they came in.

It is now 10 years since the closure of the Terry’s factory in York, and Goddards - former home to the Terry family - is marking the anniversary by looking back at some of the chocolate company’s iconic products, and showing new displays from its archive of chocolate boxes.

The display, ‘Designs of Distinction’, charts Terry’s chocolate history from its origins in 1767 to the present day and showcases some of Terry’s most famous products and also some its most unusual.

The exhibition looks at the essential role of the packers, before automated machinery took over, and at the lives of some of the factory workers who were with Terry’s for more than 50 years.

A trail of chocolate boxes will lead people round the house, with facts about the company, heading to the main displays upstairs.

A focus of the displays is on the inter-war period of the 1920s and 1930s when the Terry’s business was in its heyday and some of the most famous Terry products were created such as the chocolate orange and All Gold chocolates.

Noel Terry, who lived at Goddards, was managing director and it was a period when Terry’s took great pride in its packaging.

The Terry’s 1930 product catalogue opens saying “The purchaser of today expects a chocolate box to be worthy of the confections it contains – in distinction of design and harmony of colours, it must reflect the quality of the chocolates within.”

Some of the ‘fancy boxes’ of the 1920s and 1930s include the Thistle padded boxes and the velour caskets which included beautiful dark chocolates.

Clare Fletcher, Head of Site at Goddards, said “We are very excited to be showing some of the best known but also very unusual Terry’s chocolate boxes.

“A personal favourite of mine is the Terry’s chocolate animals box; it’s fascinating to see the difference in detail to today’s packaging and a good chance to spot one of your old favourites and reminisce about which Terry’s chocolates you enjoyed the most.”

Terry’s built up a reputation for its expensive, niche and fine quality chocolates, which were enjoyed by all - including Royalty.

The firm supplied chocolates to the Queen and during the packing process an official would come to oversee the packing and the doors would be locked to make sure the chocolates would not be contaminated.

In 1937, the King and Queen visited Terry’s and a film of this from the Yorkshire Film Archive will be on show along with objects and photographs.

It tells the story of the men and women who presented the Terry’s caskets of chocolates to the royal family on their visit to York.

Part of the display encourages people to be inspired by the Terry’s designs and create their own perfect chocolate box to take home and use. On selected days there will be talks to give a deeper insight into the chocolate firm through the ages.

The display opens tomorrow at the property on Tadcaster Road and runs until November 1. For details, call 01904 771930 or visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/goddards.