This is Scarborough - just down the road.
brief history
Cober Hill was built in 1890 by Sir Frank Lockwood, who was a barrister by profession and from 1885 Member of Parliament for York.
The property was purchased by Arnold Rowntree, former Liberal Member of Parliament for York, and nephew of the chocolate manufacturer Joseph Rowntree, in March 1920.
Arnold Rowntree prepared a Memorandum at the time setting out his hopes for Cober Hill. He wrote:
I believe that if a new recreative, educational and Conference Centre at Cober Hill which I have helped to start can be made thoroughly successful it is one of those
experiments which will be copied in other parts of the country to the great advantage of all those concerned….I want it to be a place of joy and beauty,
…a centre of refreshment and inspiration for many of those engaged in difficult public services… I hope experiments in Weekend Schools,
Winter and Summer Schools of various kinds and of longer or shorter duration may also be tried there..."
This vision has guided Cober Hill throughout its history and remains relevant today.
Cober Hill is independent of any other organisation. Over the years it has close associations with the Rowntree Trusts of York,
the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and the Adult Schools Union.
The Joseph Rowntree Centre was built in 1990 – 92 with funds from the two Rowntree Trusts.
Long established groups such as Yorkshire Adult and Quaker Easter Settlement have visited Cober throughout its history and continue to do so today.
The nature of other visitors has regularly changed over the years.
An increased emphasis on attracting school groups was successfully launched in the early 1990s and continue to this day.