Sweet Shop is Open at York Castle Museum as Confectionery Exhibition Launches

Visitors to York Castle Museum can now indulge their sweet tooth while stepping back in time, as a brand-new cash-only sweet shop opens alongside a major new exhibition celebrating the city’s confectionery heritage.

Visitors to York Castle Museum can now indulge their sweet tooth while stepping back in time, as the sweet shop is open alongside a major new exhibition celebrating the city’s confectionery heritage.

The exhibition, Sugar, Skill and Shiftwork: York’s Confectionery Workers, shines a spotlight on the people behind York’s world-famous chocolate and sweet industry. From factory workers and engineers to designers and packers, the display captures the voices, memories and experiences of those who helped build the city’s reputation as the UK’s confectionery capital.

Timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Joseph Rowntree’s passing (1836–1925), the exhibition explores the remarkable legacy of York’s chocolate pioneers, including Rowntree’s, Terry’s and Craven’s.

More than 50 objects are on display, drawn from the York Museums Trust collection as well as items loaned by the public. Highlights include nostalgic chocolate boxes, wrappers and packets, workers’ uniforms, recipe books, and artefacts linked to trade unions and workers’ rights.

The exhibition not only recalls the heyday of York’s sweet-making industry but also acknowledges the hard work and creativity of the people behind the products loved around the world.

Adding to the nostalgic atmosphere, the new traditional sweet shop offers visitors the chance to purchase treats in the style of yesteryear. The shop is cash only, encouraging visitors to step back into a simpler time when pick-and-mix and penny sweets were staples of daily life.