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17 pictures of wonderful old Terry’s chocolate boxes. Do you remember any of them?

The Animal Friends range were for the younger chocoholic, and no doubt his or her parents too…

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Food & drink, History

Spartan was all hard centres. The box features a typical art deco style image
Spartan was all hard centres. The box features a typical art deco style image. Photographs (unless otherwise stated) © National Trust Images / Karen Shead
Designs of Distinction exhibition

Goddards House and Garden, 27 Tadcaster Road, York YO24 1GG

From Weds Jul 15, 2015; house opened Wed-Sun

Adult: £5, child £2.50

Goddards website

This marvellous array of chocolate boxes shows how much care went into the design of Terry’s packaging.

The pictures show some of the exhibits in an exhibition which began on Wednesday, July 15 at Goddards, once the home of Terry’s managing director Noel Terry.

Ten years on from the closure of the Terry’s York factory, Designs Of Distinction charts the company’s chocolate history from its origins in 1767 to the present day.

It showcases some of Terry’s most famous products – as well as also some of its most unusual.

Some of the boxes on display are works of art
Some of the boxes on display are works of art
The velour "fancy boxes" hail from the company's 1920s and 1930s heyday
The velour “fancy boxes” hail from the company’s 1920s and 1930s heyday

Noel Terry was in charge during 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.

He was very proud of the company’s packaging. The company’s 1930 product catalogue opens with the words:

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.
You can see that this box of mint crisps included a business-card-sized compliments slip from Terry's
You can see that this box of mint crisps included a business-card-sized compliments slip from Terry’s

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Designs Of Distinction also tells some of the stories of the people behind the packaging.

The packers were essential before automated machinery took over, and some of the factory’s finest worked for over 50 years at Terry’s.

Although Thistle doesn't sound very appetising, unless you're Eeyore, it was a famous Terry's range
Although Thistle doesn’t sound very appetising, unless you’re Eeyore, it was a famous Terry’s range
Commemorating the year Terry's was established, 1767 was an iconic range of the finest plain chocolates
Commemorating the year Terry’s was established, 1767 was an iconic range of the finest plain chocolates. A Café Au Lait selection box can be seen in the background
This fancy assortment is pictured next to a photo of Noel Terry, who oversaw the business during its boom years and was responsible for the well-loved All Gold and Chocolate Orange products
This fancy assortment is pictured next to a photo of Noel Terry, who oversaw the business during its boom years and was responsible for the well-loved All Gold and Chocolate Orange products
These rather nifty drawers once held Devon Milk chocolates
These rather nifty drawers once held Devon Milk chocolates
Plenty of room for lots of hard and soft centres in this beautiful velour box
Plenty of room for lots of hard and soft centres in this beautiful velour box
Another example of the 1767 range
Another example of the 1767 range

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Terry’s chocolates were enjoyed by all, but were expensive, niche and fine quality chocolates.

The company 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.

Two more assortments from the glory days of chocolate boxes
Two more assortments from the glory days of chocolate boxes
We remember the Carousel mix of chocs and sweets
We remember the Carousel mix of chocs and sweets

Part of the display encourages you to be inspired by the Terry’s designs and create your own perfect chocolate box to take home and use.

And on selected days there will be bite-sized chocolate talks to give a deeper insight into the confectionery firm through the ages.

Not as famous – or long lasting – as their Rowntree cousins, Terry's Pastilles reflect the fact that the business began by producing fruit drops
Not as famous – or long lasting – as their Rowntree cousins, Terry’s Pastilles reflect the fact that the business began by producing fruit drops
The Animal Friends range were for the younger chocoholic, and no doubt his or her parents too…
The Animal Friends range were for the younger chocoholic, and no doubt his or her parents too…

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.

A Scottie dog decorates this selection box
A Scottie dog decorates this selection box
The Terry's designers didn't shirk on ornamentation
The Terry’s designers didn’t shirk on ornamentation
The exhibition includes the last Terry's Chocolate Orange that was produced at the York factory. Photograph © National Trust images
The exhibition includes the last Terry’s Chocolate Orange that was produced at the York factory. Photograph © National Trust images