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Cadbury's Bournville Factory

paul stacey said:
Yes Lyn , those treats were a God send, for us kids in those days, as we did't have much!!
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too right paul...we also used to do well with our other auntie who was manageress on a fruit farm...when she visited from evesham she came with a big box of lovely apples...happy days

lyn
 
star43 said:
That‘s interesting as it was my dad who worked at Parkside and his dad was an engine driver on the Cadbury’s railway line. If you do have any photos that would be fantastic.
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Love the family connection to the Cadbury Railway; my Great Grandfather (Jack Stanford) was the Cadbury railway foreman from 1907 to 1944; I am working on a book presently on the family railway history and obviously the railway around the factory will feature heavily. Would love to hear any recollections you may have. Paul
 
In 1904 Bournbrook Hall (entrance gates on the right of the postcard image) would still have been used as a lodging for those female workers who lived a distance from Bournville.
 
Seems to be all closed off now Mike, at least I couldn't spot that entrance and its quite grown over. But I spotted this ghost sign (?) where parts of a Cadbury building are crumbling (from March 2021 Streetview). No idea what it says.

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Viv
There has never been an entrance there since I knew the place. I think it was closed off when the Hall was demolished and the whole area became the Girls Grounds . This would have been, I think, around 1910. The building you show would be the old Cadbury club, which was burnt down about 2 years ago. Possibly Paul Cadbury's ghost had a hand in that, as, after the club got a licence, when he was visiting the site and was walking back to the bus (a truly egalitarian man) he always insisted on crossing the road when passing it, so he did not have to go too close)
 
mikejee said:
Viv
There has never been an entrance there since I knew the place. I think it was closed off when the Hall was demolished and the whole area became the Girls Grounds . This would have been, I think, around 1910. The building you show would be the old Cadbury club, which was burnt down about 2 years ago. Possibly Paul Cadbury's ghost had a hand in that, as, after the club got a licence, when he was visiting the site and was walking back to the bus (a truly egalitarian man) he always insisted on crossing the road when passing it, so he did not have to go too close)
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in slightly better condition in 2008 mike


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Sad to read that the Girl's Grounds are no more, my wife had her leaving do in there when she left Cadbury's. Must have been 1973. Club house was licenced at that time.
 
The Girls grounds are still there. It is the old club that had the fire that is a ruin. This is all owned by the village trust, not Cadburys, and, while the old responsible company would have helped out in a repair and rebuild, the American owners are not particularly helpful , as I understand it
 
MY¡ Greataunt and uncle Florrie and Bill Finch lived in Highbury Road and both worked at Cadburys , she was a Choclate Wrapper (Self Expranatilly) my greatuncle worked as a Leather Worker where and what was done in Cadburys as a Leather Worker ¿
 
At one time there were all sorts of tradespeople working there. Most things that could be done in house was done in house. Once much of the machinery was powered by belt drives in the 1960s some older parts of the factory still had the spindles and other paraphrenalia present below the ceiling I would guess that probably the belts were leather and had to be maintained and replaced
 
mikejee said:
At one time there were all sorts of tradespeople working there. Most things that could be done in house was done in house. Once much of the machinery was powered by belt drives in the 1960s some older parts of the factory still had the spindles and other paraphrenalia present below the ceiling I would guess that probably the belts were leather and had to be maintained and replaced
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The belts were leather and maintenance was important, if a belt failed during work hours it was a severe safety issue. When I left Brooke Tool Automation in November 1962, 30% of the machines were still belt driven.
 
castalla said:
MY¡ Greataunt and uncle Florrie and Bill Finch lived in Highbury Road and both worked at Cadburys , she was a Choclate Wrapper (Self Expranatilly) my greatuncle worked as a Leather Worker where and what was done in Cadburys as a Leather Worker ¿
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Castellated, your great uncle maintained and refit the drive belts for the machinery. It was for the most part a critical job. Many of the belts “back in the day” had to be custom fit or they were even more dangerous. Usually there was a master drive belt from the power source which was more substantial, then smaller belts driven off that. Cadburys would have numerous master drives because of their size. Remember they would be running more that one shift and you never knew how long the belts would last.
 
Richard Dye said:
Castellated, your great uncle maintained and refit the drive belts for the machinery. It was for the most part a critical job. Many of the belts “back in the day” had to be custom fit or they were even more dangerous. Usually there was a master drive belt from the power source which was more substantial, then smaller belts driven off that. Cadburys would have numerous master drives because of their size. Remember they would be running more that one shift and you never knew how long the belts would last.
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Thank you Richard never knew any of this so a skilled worker then
 
mikejee said:
The Girls grounds are still there. It is the old club that had the fire that is a ruin. This is all owned by the village trust, not Cadburys, and, while the old responsible company would have helped out in a repair and rebuild, the American owners are not particularly helpful , as I understand it
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Is it still possible to visit 'The Girls Grounds' or is it now overgrown and a wilderness ?
 
Not in the area, but am sure it is not a wilderness. Certainly it is visible on Google Maps. Appears to know be called Cadbury Park. At least not Mondelez Park which would be very unfortunate
 
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