THE courage of chocolate workers from York who laid down their lives for their country is to be immortalised outside the factory where they once plied their trade.

Nestlé has won permission to create a new war memorial in stone as part of a revamped entrance to its Haxby Road factory – which it says will have pride of place at the gateway to its operation.

The memorial will pay tribute to former employees of the firm’s predecessor, Rowntree’s, who were killed in the First and Second World Wars, and will include replicas of memorial plaques that were originally displayed in the chocolate works’ old dining block, now the private Nuffield Hospital.

In a planning statement submitted to City of York Council, which has now been approved, Nestlé said the entrance project would also involve demolishing the existing security hut but keeping the firm’s pentagon sign to form part of a new paved area, where the memorial will also be positioned.

“The works are required as part of Nestlé’s wish to improve the aesthetic and practical properties of the main office entrance for both visitors and staff,” said a spokesman for the company.

“The war memorial is seen by Nestlé as part of its heritage in York and an important acknowledgement of the sacrifices of its employees throughout the 20th century. Many York families will remember the original memorials and will have family members to remember.”

He said the memorial would be made from North Yorkshire sandstone and would list the names of all workers killed in wartime.

The scheme also involves making the entrance a pedestrian-only area.

The firm says this is necessary because segregating those walking into the site and those using transport has become “unworkable.”

A covered walkway along the front of Nestlé House would also be created. A separate entrance further north in Haxby Road will become the main point for cars to enter and leave the site.