Minworth Greaves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Minworth Greaves |
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Minworth Greaves
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| General information | |
| Type | Medieval hall house |
| Address | Maple Road, Bournville |
| Town or city | Birmingham |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 52°25′51″N 1°56′03″W / 52.43077°N 1.93426°W |
| Construction started | 14th century or before |
| Renovated | 1929-32 |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Cruck-frame |
| Designations | Grade II listed |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect | William Alexander Harvey |
Minworth Greaves is a very old and special building located in Bournville, a part of Birmingham, England. It's a Grade II listed building, which means it's protected because of its historical importance. This building is made with a unique timber frame called a cruck-frame.
Experts believe Minworth Greaves was built in the 14th century, or even earlier, possibly around 1250. It is owned by the Bournville Village Trust. Today, you can find Minworth Greaves right next to Selly Manor. It is part of the Selly Manor Museum.
The building was not always in Bournville. It was first built in Minworth, a different area near Sutton Coldfield, north of Birmingham. After it became very damaged, George Cadbury bought it. His son, Laurence Cadbury, then had it carefully taken apart and rebuilt in 1932. This new home for Minworth Greaves was on the grounds of Selly Manor.
What is a Cruck-Frame?
Minworth Greaves is famous for its special cruck-frame design. This is a very old way of building with wood. The main part of the roof is made from a huge oak tree. This tree was bent and then split in half lengthwise. These two halves form a strong, arched support for the building.
The walls of the building are made of timber frames. The spaces between the wooden beams were filled with plaster. The original building had smaller windows. These windows were placed higher up than they are today. Instead of glass, they used cloth soaked in animal fat to let in light.
Moving Minworth Greaves
Minworth Greaves originally stood in Minworth, north of Birmingham. Over time, the building fell apart. Only the main wooden frame was left. George Cadbury bought the damaged building. His son, Laurence Cadbury, then had it rebuilt in 1932.
This was done in the grounds of Selly Manor. Selly Manor itself had also been moved and rebuilt by the Cadbury family by 1916. For Minworth Greaves, only the main cruck-beamed hall and some other strong timbers could be saved. These pieces were put back together to show what a cruck-beamed hall would have looked like long ago. The architect William Alexander Harvey was in charge of this big rebuilding project.
A Special Table and Public Access
In 1921, a very large oak table was brought to Minworth Greaves. This table is about 18 feet (5.5 meters) long and has eight legs. It was made in 1630. The table came from a place called Crook Hall in Lancashire, which no longer exists. On the table, there is a message carved: 'an arelome to this house forever. P.C.'. This means it was meant to stay with the house always.
Minworth Greaves became a Grade II listed building in 1952. This means it is officially recognized as an important historical building. Today, Minworth Greaves is open to the public. It is used to hold different exhibitions and events.
