George Cadbury relocates timber-framed manor to Bournville in 1916

How do you preserve a building in a poor state of repair? You take it apart, piece by piece, and move it somewhere else. That is exactly what George Cadbury did in 1909. He acquired a building known as The Rookery and, instead of a simple renovation, had the structure carefully taken down and moved to its current spot in Bournville by 1916. The project cost over £6000 and was managed by architect William Alexander Harvey, who meticulously documented each step.

Before it was a museum, the building had a long and varied history. Records go back to 1476 when it was known as Smythes Tenement. It was a place for farmers and bailiffs until it became so unfashionable that it was eventually split into three cottages. By 1861, census records show that three different families lived in separate sections of the building. The property continued to deteriorate until 1907, when it was put up for sale at auction.

Now, it serves as a home for the Laurence Cadbury Collection. Laurence was George's son, and he collected fascinating items intended to give the feel of a house from the 17th century. He filled the rooms with sturdy oak chests, intricate carvings, and an 18-foot table from the 1630s that was originally from the now demolished Crooke Hall in Lancashire. The house is a historic site and a testament to his interest in preserving bygone times.

You can visit the museum all year round. The Bournville Village Trust runs the site now, and it functions as both a heritage museum and a venue for functions including weddings. It is a complete transformation from its life as a tenement to its current role as a community museum and heritage site.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons