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My grandfather, William Rowntree, was born in Scarborough, but went away to Gateshead where, on Windmill Hill, he carried on the business of a maltster. His son John came to Scarborough to be apprenticed, in 1835, to his Uncle, John Rowntree (my father-in-law, Francis Wallis, came as an assistant in 1847), where the joint business of Grocer and Draper was carried on in the shop at the corner of Carr Street, now Eastborough, and Bland's Cliff. I enclose a copy of his indenture, which was for a period of seven years, without any agreement for any payment by way of wages during the whole time (see end of Chapter I.).

I do not know in practice what was done, but in my time, 1871, the parent or guardian paid down the sum of £40 or £50, which amount was repaid to the apprentice during his period of apprenticeship, commencing with nothing for the first twelve months; increasing sums were paid during the remaining years, consequent on the conduct of the boy. Notes on the form of indenture used by our firm to-day are also added for comparison (see end of Chapter I.). My father used to tell us that in Newcastle, in his early days, there was a condition that apprentices should not have salmon more than twice in any one week !

When my father came to Scarborough as a boy, there was only one narrow street down to the Harbour, named in portions, Carr Street, Leading Post Street and Merchant's Row; Bland's Cliff being the only other road to the south shore. These narrow streets were merged into one wide street in the sixties and named Eastborough. Newborough was the first street to be paved with flags, 47 Newborough up to King Street. This provided the most desirable place for 'Arry to ask 'Arriet to spend the evening "on the flags."

What would they say to-day ? The South Cliff was a mile outside the town, the only houses being Jarvis's White Cottage, a herring curing house, a toll bar, a windmill and a public house. To the west the district beyond Newborough Street was called "Without the Bar", this road, with posts and chains, going out for a mile to the village of Falsgrave. An old drawing of the town shows a gallows placed Without the Bar as a warning to the unwelcome visitor; the present Goods Yard being built on the field which is still called Gallows Close. Mentioning Jarvis's Cottage reminds me of a story of a Friend who offered to send Jarvis a ton of coals. The offer was accepted, but when the coals were sent, Jarvis sent the donor a message,  "Thou might have sent a man to wheel them into the coal cellar. " After my father's apprenticeship, he went to the grocer's business in the Pavement, York, which had been opened by Joseph Rowntree, senior, Grocer, on the day he was 21 years of age. Owing to the sudden death of John Rowntree, senior (father of Joshua), in 1844, his nephew John (my father) took over the responsibilities of the business at Scarborough for his Aunt Jane, the widow of John Rowntree, and in due course took over the business; his uncle from York coming over periodically to supervise.

The business must have prospered, as we find the property across the road, 47 Newborough, was bought by my father, who moved into it. He married Ann Webster, who was then a governess of Jane Rowntree's children at Princess Street, two of whom, Joshua and Maria (Ellis) are well known to many of us. There is no record of the actual number of the staff or domestic servants, all of whom lived on the premises, but from some early entries the staff seems to have numbered about five or six assistants and apprentices, three maids, and, within a comparatively few years, there was a family of six children, John Watson, George, Ellen, .Frederic, Arthur and Emily-in addition, one boy, William Henry, who died when a small child -making a total of not less than 17 in the household. Was there any wonder that the mother died when only 34 years of age?

My mother had a great objection to perambulators. What was a nurse for, if not to carry her charge? Besides, a pram was colder than the arms of a nurse. If out with a pram. she would leave hold of it, and then where would the pram get to with the child ? I think one was introduced on the arrival of the fifth child, as number four was weighty.

The exhibition in London in 1862 is memorable to me by one fact. Father brought back with him a toy hansom cab. Such a thing had never been seen in Scarborough, and I think that it was a novelty in London at that time.

In 1868 my father married Eliza Brady (nee Walker), who had been his housekeeper since the death of his first wife. There was one child, Alfred. The family removed from the business house to West Parade Villas, back to Newborough, and then to the Gables, Valley Road.

The year that I came of age a grocery business in Westborough, occupied by Thomas

Baker, was offered to us, and when we took hold I started with one shop assistant, an apprentice and a young warehouse man, whom we took over from Thomas Baker, from which small beginning the present business has grown.

In 1892 the premises, No.11 Westborough, were opened as a Cafe, since which the development of Cafes has added considerably to the business. Before the Spa Company and the Corporation undertook their own Cafes, we were lessees of the Cafes at the Alexandra Gardens, on the Marine Drive, and at the South Cliff Gardens, as well as the Spa Cafe.

N.B. : No sum of money is inserted, probably because of relationship; the usual amount paid was 40 or 50 Pounds, no wages during apprenticeship, but John Rowntree voluntarily repaid the sum by yearly payments.

Since John Rowntree signed his indentures another century has passed. John Rowntree & Sons continue to take indentured apprentices under new conditions.

I will point out a few changes.

1. The apprenticeship is for three years, not seven.

2.  The apprentice no longer pays a premium but receives a wage.

3. The apprentice has 14 days holiday with full wages.

4. The apprentice is required to attend the evening continuation classes for grocers' commodities, etc., at the expense of the employer .

5. The Institute of Certificated Grocers is a fourth party to the completion of
   the Indenture.

6. On the completion of the apprenticeship the certificate is sent up to the Councillor the Institute, and, if satisfactory, is signed by the President and returned to the apprentice-an excellent testimonial for his future.

Many other slight alterations need not be mentioned here.

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