Northfield Manor House
Encyclopedia
Northfield Manor House is a Manor House
, in Northfield, Birmingham
, England
. It was once home to George
and Elizabeth Cadbury
. More recently, it has been used by the University of Birmingham
, to whom the Cadburys donated it and to whom it still belongs.
A farm house, part of the Manor of Northfield, belonging to the Jervoise family, was recorded as being on the site circa 1750. In 1809 the estate was purchased by Daniel Ledsam, a London merchant. It is believed that he made alterations to the house and was responsible for the current main building.
George Cadbury bought the house in 1890 and the Cadburys moved there from Woodbrooke in Selly Oak
, Birmingham in 1894. They lived there together until George's death at he house in 1922. Elizabeth resided there until her own death in 1951, aged 93.
The house was subsequently converted for use as a hall of residence by H W Hobbiss
. Additional wings have since been added.
Architecturally, it is in Tudor-style stone and brick, with timber-framing, projecting porch and carved bay windows probably by George Gadd who also designed some of the early Cadbury's factory buildings at Bournville
. Internally the style is Jacobean with wood panelling, carving and inscriptions.
It is a grade A locally listed grade building and has previously been considered for listing. However English Heritage
declined to list it.
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
, in Northfield, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was once home to George
George Cadbury
George Cadbury was the third son of John Cadbury, a Quaker who founded Cadbury's cocoa and chocolate company.-Background:...
and Elizabeth Cadbury
Elizabeth Cadbury
Dame Elizabeth Mary Cadbury, DBE , was an English philanthropist and wife of George Cadbury, the chocolate manufacturer.-Early life:...
. More recently, it has been used by the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, to whom the Cadburys donated it and to whom it still belongs.
A farm house, part of the Manor of Northfield, belonging to the Jervoise family, was recorded as being on the site circa 1750. In 1809 the estate was purchased by Daniel Ledsam, a London merchant. It is believed that he made alterations to the house and was responsible for the current main building.
George Cadbury bought the house in 1890 and the Cadburys moved there from Woodbrooke in Selly Oak
Selly Oak
Selly Oak is a residential suburban district in south-west Birmingham, England. The suburb is bordered by Bournbrook and Selly Park to the north-east, Edgbaston and Harborne to the north, Weoley Castle and Weoley Hill to the west, and Bournville to the south...
, Birmingham in 1894. They lived there together until George's death at he house in 1922. Elizabeth resided there until her own death in 1951, aged 93.
The house was subsequently converted for use as a hall of residence by H W Hobbiss
Holland W. Hobbiss
Holland W. Hobbiss was an architect in the Birmingham area of England. He also traded under the name Holland W. Hobbiss and Partners, and Holland W. Hobbiss and M. A. H. Hobbiss...
. Additional wings have since been added.
Architecturally, it is in Tudor-style stone and brick, with timber-framing, projecting porch and carved bay windows probably by George Gadd who also designed some of the early Cadbury's factory buildings at Bournville
Bournville
Bournville is a model village on the south side of Birmingham, England, best known for its connections with the Cadbury family and chocolate – including a dark chocolate bar branded "Bournville". It is also a ward within the council constituency of Selly Oak and home to the Bournville Centre...
. Internally the style is Jacobean with wood panelling, carving and inscriptions.
It is a grade A locally listed grade building and has previously been considered for listing. However English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
declined to list it.