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Published: March 17th 2021
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http://www.heygo.com 15th March - Bournville
In 1824, John Cadbury opened a grocer shop on Bull Street, in Birmingham city centre. Using a pestle and mortar he produced and sold tea, coffee and of course, drinking chocolate. He was passionate about his drinking chocolate which he believed to be the healthy alternative to alcohol.
He later moved his production into a factory in Bridge Street, and began producing various cocoa and drinking chocolates. Soon after with his brother Benjamin he formed the company Cadbury Brothers of Birmingham. Only the wealthy were able to purchase his wares as the production cost was so high, but in 1850, import taxes on cocoa were reduced, making chocolate more affordable for everyone.
John’s health rapidly declined and he finally retired in 1861, handing over complete control of the business to his sons Richard and George. The brothers were just 25 and 21 when they took charge of the business. When the Bridge Street factory became too small, George Cadbury had a new vision of the future. ‘Why should an industrial area be squalid and depressing?’ he asked. His vision was shared by his brother Richard, and they began searching for
a very special site for their new factory.
In 1878 the brothers found their new home. They chose a 14½ acre greenfield site between the villages of Stirchley, King's Norton and Selly Oak, about four miles south of central Birmingham. The site comprised a meadow with a cottage and a trout stream - the Bourn.
The Cadbury factory in Bournville was opened in 1879.
Cadbury were reliant on the canals for milk delivery, and on the railways for cocoa deliveries from the ports of London and Southampton. They needed a site which was undeveloped and had easy access to both canal and rail.
The factory was initially going to be called, Bournbrook, after the cottage and Bournbrook Hall which stood nearby. But instead, 'Bournville' was chosen - combining the name of the stream with 'ville', the French word for town.
Although now owned by American giant Kraft and trading as Mondelez, everyone knows it as Cadbury and that will not change.
As we wandered around the town Ian, our guide, gave details about the various buildings we saw.
The swimming baths where workers
could swim in their break time.
On top of the tower of Junior and Infants School, The Carillon, a musical instrument made up of bells which are played from a baton keyboard.
Bournville Carillon is one of just 15 left in the UK and is the largest of them, with 48 bells. It dates back to 1906 and is a memorial to the founder, George Cadbury.
The Mens’ Recreation Ground is still in use so too the pavilion although now under restoration. The statue was gifted by the workers to the Cadbury brothers in 1931.
Across the road The women-only recreation ground, hailed from the days when Cadbury workers were kept separate and the two grounds were linked by an overhead footbridge.
Up until a few years ago, you couldn't buy alcohol anywhere in Bournville - there were no off-licences, bars or pubs. All due to its Quaker heritage. The Cadbury family were Quakers and this influenced their business practices, which included decreeing that no alcohol be sold anywhere in the village.
The other thing Bournville is noted for is its beautiful "frozen in time" houses.
The Cadbury family set up Bournville as a garden village and was very keen for the residents of its houses to feel they were living amongst greenery. This is because most of them came from the back-to-backs in inner city Birmingham.
As well as the open spaces, all of the roads within the Bournville Village Trust estate are named after trees, such as Cob Lane, Mulberry Road, Laurel Grove, Cedar Road and Sycamore Road.
Selly Manor - Made up of two distinct medieval looking buildings.
Up until 1695 it was a prosperous house, but when a new owner took over its slow decline began. It was then divided into three dwellings and by the end of the 19th Century had fallen into disuse, but then George Cadbury, saved the building and arranged its move from its original home in Selly Oak into Bournville where it stands today. Since 1916 it has been a museum and wedding venue.
Bournville Village Trust was founded in 1900 with a gift of 313 homes.
George Cadbury founded the Trust, as a custodian of Bournville, following the death of his brother Richard in
1899.
The establishment of the Trust meant that even after his death, the homes George lovingly developed would still benefit those in need.
Known as the ‘Ten Shilling’ or ‘Sunshine Houses’, these homes were set at an affordable rent to help families on low incomes.
At The Quaker Meeting House below the bust of George Cadbury are his ashes.
Cadbury World was opened in 1990, closed currently due to Covid restrictions but I understand you receive free sweets if you visit but for now I was happy to learn about this unique village so close to the city of Birmingham.
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