Tuesday, July 04, 2017

Selly Manor Museum and Minworth Greaves, Bournville

Sitting on their corner plot in the lovely village of Bournville, looking for all the world as if they had been there for centuries but you'd be wrong in thinking so as all is not as it seems.

Selly Manor dates back to Mediaeval times and once stood in nearby Selly Oak. It was moved piece by piece to its present position by George Cadbury, chocolate maker and founder of Bournville. 

Known as Smyths Tenement it was a successful and prosperous house until c.1695 when change of ownership brought about a gradual decline in its status.  By the 19th century it was divided into three dwellings and called The Rookery but  later that century it was empty and unused when George Cadbury decided he wanted it in his new village.

Inside on the ground floor are a parlour, a dining hall and a kitchen.  These rooms are full of furniture and objects collected by Laurence Cadbury in the early years of the 20th century.

On the next floor is a bedchamber and a solar room and above them a garret which would have been servants quarters.  In the garret are helmets and armour from the museum's collections some of which you can try on.

In the solar was a rack of Tudor style costumes, lace collars, ruffs and hats all could be worn and tried for size.  They were all beautifully made in sumptuous fabrics and colours.



 Minworth Greaves is a cruck framed building thought to be around 750 years old.  It was moved from near Sutton Coldfield by Laurence Cadbury in 1932 and rebuit near Selly Manor.  .

The person on duty said that it had originally been moved so that parts of it could be used in the Manor but it was decided it was such a wonderful building it should be rebuilt in its own place nearby.


Inside it houses the ticket office, reception and shop

The outside sits beautifully in the wonderful garden created around the two buildings.

A few more photos below

 The Knot garden.  All the plants in the garden are what would have been grown in Tudor times.  Like herbs both culinary and medicinal, fruit and vegetables all for household use.

 Another entrance to the house.

 I love this side of the house with its different roof levels and chimneys.

Wild flowers at the side of Minworth Greaves.

I hope you have enjoyed visiting these two wonderful buildings.  After our visit here we followed a little section of the Bournville Heritage Trail.

18 comments:

  1. Love Cadbury chocolate and it's nice to know some of their money went to preserve buildings like this.

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    1. They were great benefactos as a family and looked after their workers:)

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  2. What an interesting place to visit Rosie! There's everything there, the house, wild flowers, fruit, costumes and all the history that goes with it. I'm going to look up Bournville on the map now and see how you get there from Northumberland! Perfect day out :)

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    1. It is a lovely oasis of calm close to a very big city, you can visit the factory of course, too:)

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  3. Well Rosie, I'm a bit disappointed not to see you all dressed up in one of those posh frocks! Great buildings, so glad they have been looked after. Aren't all the nooks and crannies wonderful.

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    1. Ha,Ha I'd have enjoyed that when I worked in Museums we sometimes had to dress in costume, it is a fascinating place:)

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  4. I was walking round Bourneville on Friday.... Did our paths cross?????? Jx

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    1. How amazing, we nearly crossed paths, we were there the same week but on Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday we spent the day on the University campus visiting several museums and gardens etc. It's a lovely peaceful place isn't it?:)

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  5. The brown and white contrasts are so striking! I am glad the buildings are being preserved, and the wildflower hugged walkway makes me feel a bit better about our chaotic wildflower patch :) Thanks for posting, Rosie.

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    1. Most of the garden was tended but they had let the wild flowers run riot and they looked wonderful. It's great that the buildings have been preserved and are in use like this:)

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  6. What beautiful buildings and wonderful that they have been preserved. Loved the gardens too a lovely day out. The knot garden was amazing something I would love to replicate on a smaller scale.

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    1. The whole village is a treat to walk around with all the different types of house designs and etc. Much like Port Sunlight or Saltaire but all three very different:)

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  7. What a beautiful and fascinating place to visit! A joy to go along with you for a virtual tour!

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    1. Thank you Amy, glad you enjoyed the tour:)

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  8. Oh goodness Rosie you have visited another fascinating place :) Unbelievably I have never heard of the Bournville Heritage Trail - although I have driven through a few times. I really must rectify that as your super post has made me want to learn a lot more about it. Great photos :)

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    1. The trail takes you round the purpose built village and the architectural features of the houses and public buildings built by the Cadbury family for their factory workers, it's a nice walk too:)

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  9. This is a beautiful place to visit and it has an interesting history. Thank you for sharing it with us. Marie x

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    1. It's lovely isn't it? So glad I finally got to see it:)

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