Bournville - A Village for Employees
Bournville is a beautiful village on the south side of Birmingham. It is well known for its connection with the Cadbury family and chocolate. One of the cadbury chocolate is named after Bournville village. Originally the area that was to become Bournville consisted of a few scattered farmsteads and cottages. In 1990, the Bournville Village Trust was set up to formally control the development of the estste. The trust focused on providing schools, hospitals, museums, public bath and reading rooms.
The village, surrounding parkland and houses were all planned and buit by the Cadbury Brothers George and Richard who were the sons of John, founder of the Cadbury business. The brothers buitl the Cadbury factory which is next door to the green. Bournville Village Green was the centre of this masterpiece, with a Carillion, a Quakers meeting house, and local shops including butchers and bakers.
After taking over father John Cadbury's expanding business in 1861, the Quakers George and Richard Cadbury needed to move their cocoa and chocolate factory from bridge street in central Birmingham to a greenfield site to allow expansion. In 1879, they moved their business to Bournbrook Hall to the south of Birmingham. The location was chosen as it was regarded as cleaner, healthier and more amenable to longer-term expansion plan. The Cadbury's named the area 'Bournville'.
The centre of Bournville is its picturesque village green, where you can find a small row of independent shops, including bakers, butchers, cafe and knitwear shops. There's plenty of nearby open spaces and the villagers comes to life once a year for its annual village festival where the 'Festival Queen' is crowned. You can walk for ages through parks and green spaces. In every walk with nature one receive far more than he seeks.
I love walking around the Green it feels very relaxing and pleasing specially when its sunny!!! Having an early walk in the park always refresh your mind. The grassland looked like a green ocean. I could feel the softness of the surroundings like blanket. Several birds flew through the branches of trees. Mother nature showed her masterpieces to us. The songs of bird formed a peaceful symphony in village. I closed my eyes and took a long, deep breath. While sitting on a wooden bench we(me and my husband) were observing the view of a local park. It's friendly place to go for a walk, roller skate, bicycling. The scenery here is priceless.
The lake was beautiful. Ducks swims, leaving a trail of ripples behind them. The challenge is finding a place to get close to the ducks. We did find a few spots to get closer to ducks. I loved how the different types of ducks hung out together. Always be like a duck. Calm on the surface, but always paddling like the dickens underneath...
In 1893, George Cadbury bought 120 acres of land close to the work at his own expense. By 1990, the estate included 313 cottages and houses set. There houses were traditional in design but with large gardens and modern interiors, and were designed by the resident architect William Alexander Harvey. The Cadburys were particularly concerned with the health and fitness of their workforce, incorporating park and recreation areas. They encourage swimming, walking and indeed all forms of outdoor sports.
Bournville has grown over the years from a small community of 300 houses, to about 8000 homes. Once the heart of the original village was seen to be almost complete, the Trustees turned their energies to provide economic housing in a different way. Innovative ideas include a 'Home Zone' street design, where people cars and bicycles share the same carriageway and pavements,where speeds are kept very low, to help establish a safe community.
Apart from beautiful village Bournville you can also make a visit to Temple which is full of devotional peace. The Shri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple is one of the largest temple in Europe. It was designed in the style of the Tirupati Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, India, which is the second busiest and richest religious centre. There is a community centre, gatehouse, fountain and lawn areas and walkways. You can have a meal here in the dining hall, which is sponsored by local families or groups. It is a remarkable place and well worth the visit.
How to Reach Balaji Temple from Birmingham City Centre:
The easiest way to get to the temple is to take a Bus (Number 87) from Birmingham or Dudley.
Home to world-renowned Cadbury's chocolate factory, Bournville is not only heaven for chocolate-lovers, but is also a beautiful suburb, full of places of interest. It is one of the most aesthetically pleasing villages to look at and live in. And its been described as one of the nicest place to live in Britain.
The best way to get a London Midland Train Service from Birmingham New street. Train fare is approx £3.00 for anytime off-peak return ticket. Bournville is the 4th Stop. A small and very beautiful station. Cadbury World is a walk away distance from Bournville Station and the walk route is marked very well with Cadbury's coloured steps.
For those who have a sweet tooth - You quite a few chocolates at the entrance of Cadbury World :-)
For those who have a Architect hidden inside them can also get a glance of Europe's one of the best Architecturally unique and an iconic landmark - The Selfridges Building, Birmingham. This building is just few steps away from Birmingham New street Railway Station. Below are a couple of shots from me for Day and Night view of this beautiful work.
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