On Wednesday afternoon 20 May, 20 members and friends of Coventry Society had a thought-provoking visit to Bournville and Selly Manor.
Our guides from Bournville Village Trust (BVT) explained that in the 1870s George and Richard Cadbury began searching for a new site for their hugely successful chocolate factory that was located in inner Birmingham. They selected a site four miles south of the city and named it Bournville – the stream running through the area was the Bourn and the brothers adding ‘ville’ after the French word for ‘town’. Because of their Quaker beliefs, the brothers wanted to improve what we would now call the quality of life for their employees and their families. So in 1879, work started on the factory and 16 houses.
However it was not until 1893, when a further 120 acres of land was purchased that a new model village began to take shape. As well as homes, schools, parks recreation grounds and community halls were provided.
BVT was set up in 1900 as an independent trust so that the model village was secure whatever happened to the chocolate factory. George Cadbury, in fact, gifted over 300 homes and 300 acres of land to BVT, and become its first chair person. On his death, his wife (Elizabeth Cadbury) become the new chairperson. In fact, today, BVT is still chaired by a member of the Cadbury family – Caroline Cadbury who is the great grand-daughter of George Cadbury.
BVT is now a charitable housing association and as well as Bournville Village, it works in Nechells, Northfield, Shenley, Weoley Hill, and Telford (Lawley and Lightmoor). It manages nearly 3,700 affordable homes and delivers support and services to a number of sustainable neighbourhoods.
Selly Manor, which is now located in the middle of Bournville Village, is part of BVT. The site actually comprises two buildings – Selly Manor and Minworth Greaves – and a historical replica of a Tudor garden.
Selly Manor has a complex history. It was moved piece by piece to its current location and opened as a museum in 1916 through the efforts of George Cadbury with the architect, William Alexander Harvey, playing a leading role. It was originally in Selly Oak – approximately a mile away. Despite its title, it was never a manor. It was the home of a prosperous farming family in the late 15th century, but the origins of parts of the building are probably earlier than this. By the 19th century, it was divided into three cottages for tenant farmers and labourers and in poor condition. But it continued to deteriorate and was put up for sale in following the death of the owner in 1907.
It now contains a collection of furniture and domestic objects collected by Laurence Cadbury – one of George Cadbury’s sons. It aims to provide an idea of a late Tudor / early Stuart house. The concept of a museum came from George Cadbury’s eagerness as a Quaker to ensure that families in the model village should benefit from these types of facilities. The building was granted a grade two listing in 1952.
Minworth Greaves was original in Minworth near Sutton Coldfield and probably contains features from the 13th century. It fell into disrepair and was purchased by George Cadbury. Laurence Cadbury had it restored and relocated to Selly Manor in the early 1930s. It is a listed grade two and is a timber cruck-frame building.
