Bournville and the Surrounding Area
Cadbury World is situated in the historic Bournville village - site of the original 'Factory in a Garden'.
In 1879, Richard and George Cadbury decided to move their expanding business from Birmingham's City Centre into the countryside four and a half miles away.
Situated in an area known as Bournbrook and located close to a railway and canal, the Cadbury brothers not only built a brand new factory; but improved the lives of their workers by building sixteen houses.
They named this new village Bournville and overtime added additional homes, a school, and a hospital.
By late 1900, the village had grown to 313 houses on 330 acres of land and George Cadbury established the Bournville Village Trust to care for, and maintain this growing community.
Check out the Bournville Village Council website for the latest news and events
Walk Around Bournville Village
You will learn more about the 'Factory in a Garden', the creation of Bournville and the philanthropic origins of the Cadbury business when you visit Cadbury World.
Click here to download a map pointing out the places of interest around the Cadbury Factory site and the Bournville village.
Below is a taster of the fascinating buildings and their stories within a five minute walk of Cadbury World - be sure that you make time to experience historic Bournville as part of your visit.
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Originally located around one mile and fifteen miles away from their current location, these two buildings were saved from demolition by George Cadbury and moved to Bournville at the end of the nineteenth century. The Tudor manor house which dates back to at least 1327 now displays a superb collection of furniture and artefacts and holds regular events and activities.
Click here to discover more about two of Birmingham’s oldest buildings.
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The Bournville Carillon
Having been inspired by a trip to Bruges, George Cadbury commissioned this unique musical instrument to be built into the large clock tower of Bournville’s school. Now owned and administered by the Bournville Village Trust, this 48-belled Carillon is operated on a keyboard known as a clavier.
Click here to learn more about Bournville’s Carillon, hear a sample of the music and check out when you will be to hear this instrument being played live! |
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The Rest House
An inscription inside the Rest House reads:
"This Rest House was erected to commemorate the Silver Wedding of Mr & Mrs George Cadbury by the employees of Cadbury Brothers Ltd at Bournville and in all parts of the world. A lasting memorial of esteem and affection as an expression of gratitude for the unceasing interest in their welfare and in admiration of manifold services to the world at large."
Based on the design of the medieval butter market in Dunster, this 1914 building lies in the centre of Bournville Village Green and is now home to the Carillon Visitor Centre. |
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Quaker Meeting House Built in 1905, this Y-shaped building was central to the Cadbury founding fathers’ faith. A bust of George Cadbury can be seen from its exterior. Underneath this bust are the ashes of George Cadbury and his second wife Dame Elizabeth. |
Bournville Green Shops
Designed by Bedford Tylor and built between 1905 and 1908, these shops still remain at the heart of the Bournville community and their design was influenced by timber-framed Selly Manor. |
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The Church of St Francis of Assisi
Constructed in 1912 and consecrated in 1925, the Church of St Francis of Assisi was the first Anglican Church to be in built in the Diocese of Birmingham after World War One. Built in a Byzantine style and designed by Harvey and Wicks. |
Bournville Today
Today, Bournville Village still thrives and the community spirit of it's early days continues in its leafy enclaves.
Click here to find out how the activities of the Bournville Village Trust and the Bournville Community remain faithful to the Cadbury Brothers' founding visions.
Historical Birmingham and the Midlands
Whether you’re looking for ancient or more recent history, you can compliment your visit to Cadbury World by exploring the below links to discover how Birmingham and the Midlands have played a key part in the story of England.
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Back to Back Houses
Birmingham’s last surviving court of back-to-back housing located in the city centre approximately 4.5 miles from Cadbury World. Carefully restored, follow the story of how Birmingham residents lived from the 1840s Victorian era through to the 1970s. Click here for further details. |
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The Black Country Living Museum
Historic buildings from all around the Black Country have been moved and restored to their original periods to create an authentic view of life of the people living in the heart of industrial Britain. Experience an underground coalmine and watch demonstrations from tradition craft-makers. Click here for further details. |
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Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery
The Birmingham Museums are series of buildings of historical interest and home to artefacts of regional significance. The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery located in the city centre is famous for its colllection of pre-Raphelite paintings and contains objects spanning seven centuries of European and World history. |
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Kings Norton Grammar School & Saracen's Head Inn
Located approximately two miles south of Cadbury World, these two buildings dating from medieval times and having strong connections to the English Civil War have recently been restored and are open to the public following their featuring on and winning BBC Two’s Restoration programme in 2004. Click here for further details. |
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Jewellery Quarter
Visit Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter and stop off at its museum for a guided tour around a real jewellery factory – little changed since the early part of last centuries. |
The Non-Conformist Entrepreneurs and Movement
In 1662, the Act of Uniformity in England first used the term ‘non-conformist’ to describe those groups not belonging to the traditional Anglican Church. As with the Quaker Cadbury family, these non-conformists often found their entry into the ‘establishments’ of the day including universities and the professions blocked. Not restricted from establishing businesses, the entrepreneurial spirit flourished amongst non-conformists and many of these famous individuals made their home in the Midlands.
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Josiah Wedgewood
Raised in a family of "English Dissenters", Josiah Wedgewood became famous for high-quality his pottery. The history of the Wedgewood family, company and examples of pottery can be found in the visitor centre. |
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Abraham Darby
Born into a Quaker family in the 17th century, Abraham Darby went onto develop one of the first and most significant innovations of the Industrial Revolution. His iron smelting process provided the pre-requisite supplies of material to fuel many processes needed. Ironbridge George Museum contains ten museums within the valley beside the River Severn – still spanned by the world’s first Iron Bridge – built by Darby. |
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Bishop Asbury
America’s first Methodist Bishop was born in Birmingham and his boyhood home, located in the city’s Great Barr area is now open to the public. Francis Asbury’s cottage now houses important memorabilia and information relating to the Bishop’s life and charts the rise of Methodism in the region. |
Regional Literary Heritage
The midlands is home to many leading cultural figures who have gone on to influence the world. From Elgar to Shakespeare, the links below will give you a taster the cultural heritage to be found within easily commutable distance from Cadbury World.
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William Shakespeare
Located around 20 miles from Cadbury World is the world famous Stratford-upon-Avon birthplace and home to William Shakespeare. Shakespeare Country contains many buildings and places of significance relating to the life and work of the Bard. |
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J.R.R. Tolkien
Originally from Birmingham, Tolkien's parents moved to South Africa following his father's promotion. Tolkien and his mother returned to Birmingham in 1895 when he was three. Having only known the hot and arid lands of South Africa, the green woods, fields, and the iconic Sarehole Mill on the outskirts of the city centre went on to inspire the young Tolkien and many people agree that this area provided the inspiration for the Shire of Middle Earth. Click here to learn more the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and the Tolkien Trail only 3.5 miles from Cadbury World. |