Famous for its connection with the Cadbury chocolate family Bournville is located on the south side of Birmingham, England, and is a ward within the formal district of Selly Oak. Bournville
In 1879 brothers Richard and George Cadbury relocated their chocolate and cocoa business near to a small village called Bournbrook which they developed and renamed Bournville, named after the Bourn Brook with 'ville' being French for town. Although a rural location it was still serviced by a railway station and canal. The workforce was treated with respect with good wages and working conditions. 120 acres of land near to the factory was bought by George Cadbury on which a model village was built. Designed by resident architect William Alexander Harvey the houses were traditional in design but with large gardens and modern interiors. With Cadbury being a Quaker no public houses were ever built in Bournville.
Two of Birmingham's oldest buildings were moved to Bournville in the early twentieth century by George Cadbury. Selly Manor a Tudor manor House with its medieval hall dates back to 1327 and was originally home to local tax inspectors. Today it sits in beautiful period gardens and houses a splendid collection of furniture and artefacts as well as staging regular events and activities. Minworth Greaves, another example of Tudor and medieval architecture was moved to Bournville during the 1930's and is now home to the museum's shop as well as being a venue for civil wedding ceremonies. Both buildings have a wonderful collection of period furniture and domestic objects giving a good insight of life in that era.
The first public building to be built in Bournville was Ruskin Hall. It was opened in 1903 and aimed at providing a school for arts and crafts for the community, enhancing the ideas and principles of the author, poet and artist John Ruskin.
The unusually ornate Quaker Meeting House was built in 1905 by George Cadbury as a place of worship for its residents. Another design of William Alexander Harvey the building was extended in the 20's. A bust of George Cadbury overlooks Bournville and the village green, and underneath the bust are the ashes of George and his second wife Dame Elizabeth.
Designed by Bedford Tyler the shops remain at the very core of Bournville. Built between1905 and 1908 the timber framed buildings take on the influence of the original designs such as Selly Manor. The shops catered for most needs with a pharmacy, butchers, bakers, post office and grocery store, with modern day versions still in existence today.
The Cadbury's factory remains a key site for Cadbury Schweppes today and is still one of Birmingham's main employers making a vast range of chocolate products. The district surrounding the factory has been 'dry' for one hundred years or more with no alcohol being sold in pubs, bars or shops. Residents have constantly fought to maintain this, winning a court battle in 2007 with giant supermarket chain Tesco's to prevent it selling alcohol in its local outlet.
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