About us - the history of Cober Hill

90 Years of a Vision Fulfilled

It was the vision of John Wilhelm Rowntree, of York’s great chocolate family, to develop a centre where people working in education, social service, and other voluntary and charitable activity could gather for residential courses and conferences.  And it was his cousin Arnold Rowntree who brought that vision to fulfilment by the purchase in 1920 of a splendid Victorian mansion in Cloughton, Cober Hill.  Arnold wanted to provide space and facilities for groups reflecting his interests in Adult Education and also for families who wanted something more than a conventional holiday by the seaside.  For the past 90 years that vision has been amply fulfilled, and under the guidance of its two principal shareholders, two of the Rowntree Trusts, Cober Hill’s buildings, facilities and grounds have been steadily enhanced and its user groups widened.

Cober Hill’s range of lounges and meeting rooms enable the different groups staying there to have their own private meeting and relaxing space.  Its large conference hall and lecture theatre provide room for larger gatherings and for active uses. In its superb setting overlooking spectacular cliffs and backed by the North Yorkshire Moors, the 6 acres of gardens plus leisure facilities can meet the needs both of the most energetic and of the seeker after peace and tranquillity.

The range of groups and individuals who have benefited from a stay at Cober Hill is wide and varied.  The initial focus of the Directors was to attract groups with educational interests or actively involved with the social issues and problems of the time, but it also successfully attracted families with its provision of relatively inexpensive holidays with added active interest.  More recently the variety of groups coming to Cober has extended to day conferences, business residential meetings, special interest courses and family reunions; almost any type of interest can be catered for.  The emphasis on education covers adult education groups as well as being particularly successful in attracting school groups with a particular emphasis on schools from relatively deprived areas and on children who wouldn’t otherwise experience such mind-broadening outdoor activities.

In 2010 Cober Hill celebrated ninety years of successfully meeting the vision of its founding fathers, and catering to the needs of client groups with widely differing needs and priorities.  We very much look forward to the future and to celebrating our centenary in 2020.