John Bowes Morrell

John Bowes Morrell Cllr. Ald. Freeman
Lord Mayor of York
In office 1949–1950
Monarch	George VI
Preceded by	William Dobbie
Succeeded by	Ernest Harwood
In office 1914–1915
Monarch	George V
Preceded by	Henry Rhodes Brown
Succeeded by	William Alexander Forster Todd
York City Councillor
In office 1905–1945
Personal details
Born	1873
Died	1963 (aged 89–90)
Political party	Liberal Progressives
Spouse	Bertha Spence Watson ​ ​ (m. 1902⁠–⁠1954)​
Parents	William Wilberforce Morrell (father) Lydia Hutchinson (mother)
Education	Bootham School, York
Occupation	Politician, author and historian
Known for	Conservation; University founder; Liberalism

John Bowes Morrell (1873–1963) was an English historian and writer. 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 J.B. Morrell Library at the University of York is named after him.

Biography

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 religiosity seems to have been behind John's activism in Liberal Politics from a young age.

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.

Morrell joined Rowntree's Cocoa Works when he was 17, becoming Director at 24. He was Mayor of York in 1914 and again in 1950.

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 ..."

He bought many newspapers, including the Birmingham Gazette, Lincolnshire Chronicle, and Westminster Press.

Historian of York

He wrote several books about York. He was made an Honorary Freeman of the City of York, given honorary degrees and declined a knighthood. He was a Life Vice-President of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society and co-founder and first chairman of the York Civic Trust.

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.

Legacy

A plaque to Morrell is on the exterior of 111 Walmgate, also known as Bowes Morrell House. The library, built on the campus of the University of York was named after Morrell in 1966.

Select publications

• Morrell, J.B. 1928. How York Governs Itself: Civic Government as Illustrated by the County of the City of York.
• Morrell, J.B. and Watson, A.G. (eds) 1933. Whitehall at York. How York is governed by the ministers of the Crown.
• Morrell, J.B. 1944. York Monuments (The Arts and Crafts in York).
• Morrell, J.B. 1947. The Biography of the Common Man of the City of York as recorded in his epitaph.
• Morrell, J.B 1949. Woodwork in York.
• Morrell, J.B 1955. “The City of Our Dreams”.