GEORGE CADBURY
George Cadbury was born at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on 19
September 1839 , the son of John Cadbury, tea and coffee
merchant in Bull Street, who also made and sold cocoa
and chocolate.
In 1861 he and his brother, Richard, took over the
management of the cocoa factory, but his main interest
lay in social reform, particularly in supplying decent
housing for the ordinary working man. To forward this he
was elected to Birmingham Town Council in 1877 and threw
himself wholeheartedly into municipal reform begun by
Joseph Chamberlain.
George resolved to remove his cocoa works from the
crowded streets of Birmingham into the country as this
would make for happier and healthier lives for his
employees. This was achieved in 1879, when the works
moved to Bournville.
In 1895, George began the greatest experiment of his
life - the Bournville Building Estate - which, by 1900,
was to grow into the Bournville Village Trust. He bought
120 acres of land next to the factory site and houses
were designed to fit in with the surroundings with a
generous provision for gardens and open space.
He was a faithful member of the Society of Friends and
he did them good service, notably in the establishment
of a settlement at Woodbrooke, Selly Oak, his old family
home. George Cadbury died at his home, Manor House,
Northfield, on 24 October, 1922 and was cremated at the
crematorium, Perry Barr.
George Cadbury was born at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on 19
September 1839 , the son of John Cadbury, tea and coffee
merchant in Bull Street, who also made and sold cocoa
and chocolate.
In 1861 he and his brother, Richard, took over the
management of the cocoa factory, but his main interest
lay in social reform, particularly in supplying decent
housing for the ordinary working man. To forward this he
was elected to Birmingham Town Council in 1877 and threw
himself wholeheartedly into municipal reform begun by
Joseph Chamberlain.
George resolved to remove his cocoa works from the
crowded streets of Birmingham into the country as this
would make for happier and healthier lives for his
employees. This was achieved in 1879, when the works
moved to Bournville.
In 1895, George began the greatest experiment of his
life - the Bournville Building Estate - which, by 1900,
was to grow into the Bournville Village Trust. He bought
120 acres of land next to the factory site and houses
were designed to fit in with the surroundings with a
generous provision for gardens and open space.
He was a faithful member of the Society of Friends and
he did them good service, notably in the establishment
of a settlement at Woodbrooke, Selly Oak, his old family
home. George Cadbury died at his home, Manor House,
Northfield, on 24 October, 1922 and was cremated at the
crematorium, Perry Barr.