A MANOR house which was once home to a member of the Cadbury chocolate dynasty has been declared “at risk” by a conservation charity.
The property, which stands in what is now Manor Farm Park, Northfield, was the home of George Cadbury and his wife Elizabeth and was used for student accommodation by the University of Birmingham after she died in 1951.
But the university decided to close the venue in 2007 and now it has been included among 100 new entries in a Buildings at Risk catalogue produced by the charity, SAVE Britain’s Heritage.
Rhiannon Tracy, buildings at risk officer for SAVE, said: “We would recommend that any redevelopment of the site retains this building.
“Although it’s not nationally listed, it’s still of significance in terms of its local history and the Cadbury family is a strong connection.”
Petitions have been launched to have the building listed and save the site from any redevelopment. Its place in the Buildings at Risk catalogue will also raise awareness of the home’s plight.
A spokeswoman for the University of Birmingham said negotiations with a developer were taking place.
She said: “The University of Birmingham took the decision to close Manor House at the end of 2007.
“The university bought the house in 1953 from the Cadbury family for use as a catered hall of residence. The house would have required a massive programme of investment to bring the quality of the accommodation up to an acceptable modern day standard and the building’s infrastructure and services also need significant upgrading.
“There was also dwindling student demand for a fully catered hall so far from the university’s main campus. The university still owns the property and is currently working with a developer on the future use of the site.”
