DATE: 15th April 2021

Reyahn King, chief executive of York Museums Trust, said: “We welcome The Rowntree Society’s ongoing research into the complex issues surrounding the Rowntree company’s participation in colonialism and racialised exploitative working practices.

“By making this a priority, it aligns with our own need to rigorously examine the stories we tell and to give a voice to those which have been dismissed or hidden.

“York Castle Museum is home to a unique collection of Rowntree’s artefacts. By working with partners such as The Rowntree Society it will enable us to place objects within a more accurate historical context and avoid the airbrushing of history that avoids uncomfortable stories.

“We look forward to learning more from the Society’s research and sharing key findings and themes with our audiences.”