Bournville Village Trust
Encyclopedia
Bournville Village Trust is an organisation that was created to maintain and improve the suburb of Bournville
, located in Birmingham
. However, during the 20th century it expanded its geographical coverage to include developments in Shenley Green
, Lightmoor in Telford
, Bloomsbury in Nechells
and Rowheath.
, with his brother Richard, took over their father’s small business, Cadburys in 1861. Based in Birmingham City Centre, the business expanded into the manufacture of pure cocoa and then chocolate bars and filled chocolates.
As the city premises was no longer large enough, the two brothers purchased land in the countryside, 4 miles out of Birmingham (at that time). Despite this the area had excellent canal and railway access, and embarked on the building of a new factory in what became known the world over as Bournville.
Due to George Cadbury's Quaker beliefs, he set an objective to provide decent quality homes designed by architect William Alexander Harvey
in a healthy environment which could be afforded by industrial workers. Bournville has never been a factory village "tied" to the Works; fewer than half the inhabitants have a link with the Cadbury factory.
In 1900 Bournville Village Trust was founded to administer and develop the village and its surroundings. The Estate today covers 1000 acres (4 km²), providing a home for some 25,000 people, and includes an exceptionally wide range of housing provision. The first Manager was John Henry Barlow, whose wife Mabel Cash was a cousin of George Cadbury's wife Elizabeth Taylor. John Henry was a much respected Quaker from Cheshire and JHB was very instrumental in making the BVT the success it was. On his retirement he was succeeded by Leonard Appleton and then by John Henry's son Ralph Barlow who made the Trust his life's work until he retired in 1975. The Ralph Barlow room in Bournville and Ralph Barlow House are named in his memory.
Bournville's green environment reflects the aim of George Cadbury that one-tenth of the Estate should be... "laid out and used as parks, recreation grounds and open space".
Bournville
Bournville is a model village on the south side of Birmingham, England, 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 council constituency of Selly Oak and home to the Bournville Centre...
, located in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. However, during the 20th century it expanded its geographical coverage to include developments in Shenley Green
Shenley Green
Shenley Green is an area of Birmingham. It is located in the south-west of the city, between Weoley Castle and Northfield.Shenley Green was a post war development built on the location of Shendley Green Farm and by 1958 there were around 8,000 residents....
, Lightmoor in Telford
Telford
Telford is a large new town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, approximately east of Shrewsbury, and west of Birmingham...
, Bloomsbury in Nechells
Nechells
Nechells is an area in inner-city Birmingham, England, with a population of 27,969 . It is also a ward within the formal district of Ladywood. Nechells local government ward includes areas, for example parts of Birmingham city centre, which are not part of the historic district of Nechells as such...
and Rowheath.
History
George CadburyGeorge Cadbury
George Cadbury was the third son of John Cadbury, a Quaker who founded Cadbury's cocoa and chocolate company.-Background:...
, with his brother Richard, took over their father’s small business, Cadburys in 1861. Based in Birmingham City Centre, the business expanded into the manufacture of pure cocoa and then chocolate bars and filled chocolates.
As the city premises was no longer large enough, the two brothers purchased land in the countryside, 4 miles out of Birmingham (at that time). Despite this the area had excellent canal and railway access, and embarked on the building of a new factory in what became known the world over as Bournville.
Due to George Cadbury's Quaker beliefs, he set an objective to provide decent quality homes designed by architect William Alexander Harvey
William Alexander Harvey
William Alexander Harvey was an English architect. He is most notable for his design of Bournville, the model 'garden suburb' built by Cadburys to house their chocolate-making workforce to the south of Birmingham....
in a healthy environment which could be afforded by industrial workers. Bournville has never been a factory village "tied" to the Works; fewer than half the inhabitants have a link with the Cadbury factory.
In 1900 Bournville Village Trust was founded to administer and develop the village and its surroundings. The Estate today covers 1000 acres (4 km²), providing a home for some 25,000 people, and includes an exceptionally wide range of housing provision. The first Manager was John Henry Barlow, whose wife Mabel Cash was a cousin of George Cadbury's wife Elizabeth Taylor. John Henry was a much respected Quaker from Cheshire and JHB was very instrumental in making the BVT the success it was. On his retirement he was succeeded by Leonard Appleton and then by John Henry's son Ralph Barlow who made the Trust his life's work until he retired in 1975. The Ralph Barlow room in Bournville and Ralph Barlow House are named in his memory.
Bournville's green environment reflects the aim of George Cadbury that one-tenth of the Estate should be... "laid out and used as parks, recreation grounds and open space".