Cadbury and Bournville: the chocolate village

Few names are as closely linked with Birmingham as Cadbury. For almost 200 years, the chocolate maker has been part of the city's story, and its factory and model village at Bournville are among the most remarkable places in Britain.

A shop on Bull Street

The story began in 1824, when John Cadbury, a Quaker, opened a shop on Bull Street in the city centre selling tea, coffee and drinking chocolate. As a Quaker, he believed alcohol was a cause of many social problems, and he saw drinking chocolate as a healthier alternative.

The business grew, and in 1879 his sons, George and Richard Cadbury, moved production to a new factory in the countryside south of the city, beside the Bourn brook. They called it Bournville.

A factory in a garden

At a time when many factory workers lived in crowded, unhealthy conditions, the Cadbury brothers wanted to create something better. The factory had good lighting, heating, kitchens and sports fields, and the company provided education and medical care for its workers.

The model village

From the 1890s, George Cadbury built a model village around the factory, with well-built cottages, large gardens, parks and open spaces. In 1900 he set up the Bournville Village Trust to look after it. The village was open to everyone, not only Cadbury workers, and it became an important influence on the garden city movement.

In keeping with the Cadbury family's Quaker beliefs, there were no pubs in the village.

Famous brands

Cadbury Dairy Milk was launched in 1905 and became Britain's best-selling chocolate bar. It was followed by favourites such as Flake, Creme Egg and Roses, many of which are still made at Bournville.

Visiting today

Cadbury World, which opened in 1990, tells the story of the company and of chocolate itself, with interactive zones, demonstrations and plenty of opportunities to taste.

Take time to walk around the village. The village green, the Rest House, the carillon of bells and the old buildings are a peaceful contrast to the busy city. Selly Manor, a Tudor house moved to Bournville by George Cadbury, is now a museum.

Changes

Cadbury was taken over by the American company Kraft in 2010, and is now part of Mondelez International. Bournville remains its spiritual home, and chocolate is still made at the factory.

Getting there

Bournville station is a short train ride from Birmingham New Street, and the factory and village are a few minutes' walk away. The smell of chocolate often drifts across the station, a welcome for every visitor.