Bournville

Encyclopedia : B : BO : BOU : Bournville

Bournville is an area on the south side of Birmingham, best known for its connections with the Cadbury family and chocolate - including a dark chocolate bar branded "Bournville". It is also a ward within the formal district of Selly Oak and home to a campus of the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design.

Contents

1 History
2 Cadbury
3 Sustainability
4 Transport
5 Other model villages
6 External links

History

Originally consisting of a scattering of farmsteads and cottages linked by winding country lanes, the only visual highlight being the Georgian built Bournbrook Hall.

The bluebell glades of Stocks Wood were said to be a relic of the Forest of Arden and there are Roman remains nearby.

Cadbury

In 1879, George and Richard Cadbury moved their cocoa and chocolate factory from Bridge Street in central Birmingham to a greenfield site beside Bournbrook Hall, four miles to the south. The location was chosen as it was regarded as cleaner, healthier and more amenable to longer-term expansion plans. Although rural, it was also already serviced by a railway station and canal.

The Cadburys named the area 'Bournville' after the Bourn Brook; with 'ville' being French for 'town', this set Bournville apart from the local area (some people wrongly believe Bournville was originally known as Bournbrook - Bournbrook exists to the north of Bournville). The Cadburys began to develop their factory in the new suburb. Loyal and hard-working workers were treated with great respect and relatively high wages and good working conditions; Cadbury also pioneered pension schemes, joint works committees and a full staff medical service. Indeed, the Cadburys were particularly concerned with the health of their workforce, incorporating garden areas into Bournville's plans, and encouraging swimming, walking and all forms of outdoor sports.

Later, George Cadbury bought 120 acres (0.5 km²) of land close to the works and planned, at his own expense, a model village which would 'alleviate the evils of modern more cramped living conditions'. These almost 'Arts and Crafts' houses were traditional in design but with large gardens and modern interiors, and were designed by the resident architect William Alexander Harvey. These designs became a blueprint for many other model village estates around Britain. It is also noteworthy as, because George Cadbury was a Quaker, no public houses have ever been built in Bournville.

Bournville Rest House was built to celebrate the Silver Wedding Anniversary of George and Elizabeth Cadbury, and was paid for by the employees of Cadbury Brothers Ltd. The design is by William Alexander Harvey, who was architect of many of the buildings on the estate and is based on a mediaeval butter market in Dorset. Currently, the building houses the Visitors Centre for the Carillon.

In 1900, the Bournville Village Trust was set up to formally control the development of the estate, independently of George Cadbury or the estate. The trust focused on providing schools, hospitals, museums, public baths and reading rooms. As Bournville is a conservation area, another job of the Bournville Village Trust is to accept or reject plans for building extension and modification.

An almost campus feel evolved, with a triangular village green, infant and junior schools, the School of Art and the Day Continuation School (originally intended for young Cadbury employees) and a host of events such as fetes and Maypole dances.

The trust continues to exercise an international influence on housing and town planning generally. Now containing 7,800 homes on 1,000 acres (4 km²) of land with 100 acres (0.4 km²) of parks and open spaces, Bournville remains a popular residential area of Birmingham.

Cadbury-Schweppes is still one of Birmingham's main employers, making all manner of chocolate products.

The dark chocolate Bournville Plain is now manufactured in France and sold in the UK.

Sustainability

In 1983 the Bournville Village Trust bought 65 acres of Rowheath Park to develop as a solar village. At the time of its completion, it was the largest such development in northern Europe.

Transport

Bournville used to be served by a busy network of trams that served much of greater Birmingham. These have now been dismantled to make way for busier roads.

Bournville lies on the A4040, the ring road developed in the 1920s and served by the 11A and 11C Birmingham Outer Circle bus routes.

Road access into Birmingham City Centre is via either the Bristol Road (A38), served by the 61, 62 and 63 bus routes, or the Pershore Road (A441), served by the 45 and 47 busses.

Other bus services include the 84 (Hawkesley to City Centre) and 27 (Hawkesley to Kings Heath)

Bournville is serviced by Bournville railway station. Railway services are provided by the Birmingham Cross-City Line to Birmingham New Street, Lichfield and Redditch.

The National Cycle Network route five passes near Bournville ([map]) towards Hurst Street in the City Centre. The Birmingham and Worcester Canal can be joined at the railway station and serves as a de-facto cycle route to Brindley Place.

Other model villages

External links

[Birmingham City Council's Bournville Ward page]
[Bournville community website]
[Bournville carillon]
[The Food of the Gods] - the manufacture chapter provides a good overview of the Cadbury's Bournville operation at the turn of the 20th century - from Project Gutenberg
[Photos of Bournville on Flickr]

Government of Birmingham

Birmingham electoral districts and wards

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