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Bournville Trail
(Link on the map to see an enlarged version) Explore Bournville...
Selly Manor & Minworth Greaves Two of Birmingham's oldest buildings were moved to Birmingham in the early twentieth century. The Tudor manor house and medieval hall sit in beautiful period gardens. Selly Manor dates back to at least 1327 and was home to the local tax collectors. The building fell into disrepair and was saved from demolition by George Cadbury who moved it here to Bournville. Today Selly Manor houses a superb collection of furniture dating from 1500 to 1750. Minworth Greaves is a cruck-framed timber building moved to Bournville in the 1930s. This medieval hall house is home to the museum's shop and also holds civil wedding ceremonies as well as regular events and exhibitions.
The Shops A the heart of Bournville and opposite the green are the local shops. Designed by Bournville Village Trust architect Bedford Tylor and built between 1905 and 1908 they show the influence of timber-framed buildings, like Selly Manor, on the design of the village. When the shops were first opened they contained a parmacy, butchers, bakers, Post Office and grocery store. Most of these still remain.
The Church of St Francis of Assisi The parish church was built in a Byzantine style and designed by the architects Harvey and Wicks. The church hall was built in 1912 and the church was consecrated in 1925, the first Anglican Church to be built in the Diocese of Birmingham after the First World War. Inside there are polished granite colomns on each side with richly carved capitals.
Bournville Junior School and the Carillon Above the arts and crafts inspired Junior School is the domed Carillon, one of the main landmarks of Bournville Village. Carillons are a rare sight in this country and the one in Bournville is one of only 13 in Britain. The Carillon houses a series of bells that are rung by the striking of a hammer on the outside of the bell. This is operated on a keyboard known as a clavier. Carillons originated in the Low Countries and George Cadbury's visit to Bruges, Belgium inspired the Bournville Carillon. The Bournville Carillon can be heard playing most weekends. Ruskin Hall This was the first public building in Bournville. Originally designed as a social centre for the village it was opened in 1903 with the aim of providing a school of arts and crafts for the community. Its purpose was to further the ideas and principles of John Ruskin, the eminent Victorian artist and cultural commentator. Today, it is part of the University of Central England.
The Quaker Meeting House Built in 1905 and enlarged in the 1920s the Meeting House is unusually ornate. The Y-shaped building was designed by William Alexander Harvey, an influential architect on the Bournville estate, and draws the worshipper in with its design.
The Rest House This building was paid for by the employees of Cadbury Brothers Ltd to commemorate the Silver Wedding Anniversary of George and Elizabeth Cadbury on 9th June 1913. The design is taken from a medieval butter market in Dunster, Somerset. Today, the building is home to the Carillon Visitor Centre and a gift shop and is used as the logo for Bournville Village Trust. Opening times: Wed - Sat, 11.30am - 4.30pm.
The Day Continuation School Opened in 1925 it was built so that Cadbury workers were able to continue their education, something that had been important to the company since at least 1899. In 1911 Cadbury made education compulsory for workers aged 14 to 18, male clerks attended until 19 and apprentices until they were 21. Classes included physical training and crafts as well as academic lessons in the sciences and English. By the 1930s several firms in the area sent their employees and almost 3000 students attended for one day a week. Today the building is part of the Univeristy of Central England.
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