Nationality British Occupation author and historian | Name John Morrell Died 1963 | |
Known for Conservation; University founder; Liberalism | ||
John Bowes ('J.B.') Morrell (1873–1963) was an English author and historian. He was twice Lord Mayor of York, a leading figure in the local movement to establish a university in York, and founder of the York Conservation Trust. The "JB Morrell Library" at the University of York is named after him.
Contents
He joined Rowntree's Cocoa Works when he was 17, becoming Director at 25. He was Mayor of York in 1914 and again in 1950.
He helped found the University of York and the Borthwick Institute for Archives. He bought many newspapers, including the Birmingham Gazette, Lincolnshire Chronicle, and Westminster Press.
He wrote books, especially about York which he loved; e.g. 'York Monuments', and 'Woodwork at York'. He was made an Honorary Freeman of the City of York, given honorary degrees to universities, and declined a knighthood.
Early life
John Morrell's father was William Wilberforce Morrell (1837–1904), a bank manager in York, and the author of 'The History of Selby' which was illustrated by his sister Jemima.
His mother, born Lydia Hutchinson (1832–1939) married the non-conformist Morrell, who was a Wesleyan Methodist, whilst it appears she was a Quaker. Their extreme religiosity seems to have been behind John's activism in Liberal Politics from a young age.
John Morrell married Bertha Spence Watson (1877–1954) in the Friends Meeting House at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1902. Her mother's Family Chronicles explained that in "1877 ... our Darling little Bertha was given to us on the 18th of May. I recovered nicely, & the new baby, like all of her sisters in turn before her, was much made of, & considered the greatest treasure ..."
In 1884 John attended Bootham School, a Quaker establishment. It was at this school where he was to meet his future colleagues at the Rowntree's family chocolate and confectionery company, Arnold Rowntree and Seebohm Rowntree.
York Conservation Trust
The York Conservation Trust (YCT) was formed as Ings Property Company Limited in 1945 by JBM and his brother Cuthbert Morrell, who had both been buying medieval properties in York for many years, which they restored and rehabilitated, together with Dr Morrell’s son Mr William Bowes Morrell. In 1976 they bequeathed all the properties in the company to the current registered charity, York Conservation Trust Limited.