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Bournville Village Conservation Area
The Bournville Village Conservation Area contains the original garden village established by George Cadbury in the 1890's.
The housing mainly consists of comparatively large and well-built semi-detached pairs with ample front and rear gardens laid out at a density of around seven households per acre.
Most of the houses are individually designed in the Edwardian Arts and Crafts style.
Cadbury also made generous provision for social life and community development by building shops, schools, an Anglican parish church, a Friends Meeting House and an arts and crafts college.
Many of these buildings are arranged around an attractive village green.
Cadbury also provided recreational gardens and playing fields incorporating natural landscape such as Camp Wood. The conservation area is generally regarded as an excellent example of a late 19th century pioneer garden suburb.
Carillon in the Bournville Village Conservation Area
There is a carillon, installed by George Cadbury in 1906, on the roof of Bournville Primary School on the Green. The carillon consists of 48 bells housed in a copper dome. Their clappers are connected by wires to the keys and pedals of a clavier; the bells themselves remain motionless.
Friends Meeting House in the Bournville Conservation Area
The Meeting House on Linden Road by W Alexander Harvey was built in red-brick with stone dressings in 1905. It features a tall gable above a Romanesque doorway flanked by an octagonal staircase turret. The interior contains a splendid bust of the Quaker George Cadbury.
Guide Bournville Bournville Village Conservation Area
Churches in the Bournville Conservation Area
Saint Francis' Church on Linden Road was built in red-brick in the Romanesque style in 1905; the church, which was designed by William Alexander, comprises a chancel, nave and baptistery; its construction was financed by George Cadbury.
There is a tympanum above the north door by William Bloye which portrays Saint Francis of Assisi feeding birds. Another, above the south door, was carved by John Poole; it depicts the saint as a builder of churches.
The interior contains a lectern by Francis Ames in the form of a an eagle perched on a globe; the organ was taken from the girl's dining room at the Cadbury chocolate factory.
Links: Landmark Churches - Bournville Conservation Area - St Francis' Website
Listed Secular Buildings in the Bournville Village Conservation Area
This circular Rest House on Bournville Village Green was modelled on the Yarn Market (1609) at Dunster in Somerset. It was built by the employees of Cadbury to commemorate the 25th wedding anniversary of George and Elizabeth Cadbury.
An inscription reads: "in gratitude for their employer's unceasing interest in their welfare". The Rest House is now a visitor centre.
Links: Bournville Secular Listed Buildings
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