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Bournville, Birmingham

Many might regret the passing of village life, and see urban society as opening the way for social problems. In reality the late eighteenth and nineteenth century Industrial Revolution led generally to an increase in living standards. People in nineteenth century villages faced a precarious life working for farmers. They were more poorly paid than their counterparts in the towns, and their life would not generally be one that a factory worker would envy. This of course did not stop people looking back fondly at the age of villages. The nineteenth century, a time of unprecedented change, threw up a nostalgic reaction. Nature was celebrated, childhood largely invented, and villages idealised. Many thinkers, such as John Ruskin and William Morris were convinced that industrialisation by definition destroyed communities, and suggested a return to village life as an answer. Some idealistic industrialists were determined to return to a rural dream that never in fact existed. Great Tew in Oxfordshire, which has all the appearance of timeless charm, was largely built by nineteenth century lords, who created the green, and surrounded it with new or rebuilt houses with a common rustic architectural theme. The industrialist William Hesketh Lever tried to recreate the past at his model village at Port Sunlight. George Cadbury who had made a fortune in confectionary manufacture tried to do the same at Bournville.

George Cadbury started building the village of Bournville in 1878. Rather than building terraced houses, Cadbury's workers would be housed in cottages surrounding a green. The houses were half timbered and were designed to look "traditional" and hark back to pre-industrial times. Two authentically old houses, thirteenth century Minworth Greaves and the Tudor building Selly Manor, pictured above, were also moved to Bournville and reconstructed.

Bournville is then one of the best places to see the nineteenth century creation of a rural dream.

Opening Times: The two houses Cadbury moved to the village are open to visitors. Selly Manor is open Tuesday to Friday 10am until 5pm and from April to September also open weekends and Bank Holidays 2pm until 5pm. (Closed over Christmas and New Year.) Minworth Greaves is on the same site.

Address: Selly Manor, Maple Road, Bournville, Birmingham B30 2AE

The Cadbury World visitors' centre can also be seen at Bournville. This is an interactive museum describing the history of the Cadbury company. There is a shop where Cadbury's products are sold. Staff also give out small amounts of free chocolate. Not surprisingly the centre is hugely popular with children.

Directions: Bournville is three miles south of Birmingham off the A4040. Regular train services run from Birmingham New Street. Buses 61, 62, 63 run to Bournville from the centre of Birmingham. Click here for an interactive map centred on Bournville.

Access: There is disabled access throughout Cadbury World, except for parts of the packaging plant. Adapted toilet facilities are provided. Note that in the village of Bournville, access to the historic houses is poor. A photo album tour of Selly Manor is available for those who cannot enter the house. Dogs are welcome in the garden, guide dogs in the house.

Contact:

telephone: 0121 472 0199

e-mail: sellymanor@bvt.org.uk

for Cadbury World : 0121 451 4259

web site: www.cadburyworld.co.uk

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