Selly Manor facts for kids
Selly Manor is a very old timber-framed house. It is in a place called Bournville. A kind chocolate maker named George Cadbury moved it there in 1916.
Selly Manor and another old building, Minworth Greaves, are now a museum. It is called Selly Manor Museum. The Bournville Village Trust runs it. It is a place to learn about history. You can also hold events there, like weddings. The museum is open all year. It often has special events. Inside, you can see the Laurence Cadbury furniture Collection. This collection has old furniture and household items. They are from the years 1500 to 1900.
History of Selly Manor
This old building has had many names. It has also been in two different places. Its story goes back over 500 years. The first records of the house are from 1476. Back then, it was called Smythes Tenement. It was on land owned by William Jenette. He was the lord of the Selly area. William Jenette rented Smythes Tenement to a local farmer. His name was John Othe’field.
In 1561, a family leased the house. They were John Setterford, his wife Phylis, and her son William Pritchett. This family became very successful. They even bought the house. Phylis Setterford lived longer than her husband. When she passed away in 1608, a list was made. It showed everything inside the house. It also described how the house was laid out.
From this list, we know something important. The middle part of the building was a medieval hall. Later, tax records show a change by 1664. This old hall was replaced. A new three-storey brick section was built. This is the part you see today. Phylis Setterford's family owned the house until 1699. After that, new owners did not live there. They did not spend money to fix the building. So, the house started to get old and worn out.
The house became less popular. Its condition got worse in 1795. That year, the house was sold. But the land around it was sold separately.
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Smythes Tenement kept getting worse. By 1853, it was split into three small cottages. People rented these cottages. It was then known as The Rookery. Census records from 1861 show how many people lived there. Ten members of the Davis family lived in one cottage. Four members of the Thompson family lived in the middle one. Seven members of the Williams family lived in the last cottage. The house got even more run down. Its owner, Edward Olivieri, died. So, The Rookery was put up for sale in 1907.
Moving Selly Manor
The building was in very bad shape. It was almost destroyed. But George Cadbury saved it. He bought it in 1907. He wanted it to be a museum. It would be a good addition to Bournville. This was the garden village he built. It was next to his chocolate factory. George Cadbury wrote a letter to his son, Laurence. He said, ‘These old buildings teach us about the past. They are especially needed in a new city like Birmingham. Most people never think about old times.’
People at the time said the area where The Rookery stood was ‘unlovely’. George Cadbury wanted to give the building a better future. So, he had the building carefully taken apart. Then, it was moved to where it stands today. An architect named William Alexander Harvey managed the project. He wrote down every step very carefully. The work started in 1909. It was finished in 1916. It cost over £6000. The next year, the building opened as a museum. In 1952, the house was given Grade II listed status. This means it is a very important historic building.
In 1932, another old building was moved. It was called Minworth Greaves. It came from Minworth. It was moved to the grounds of Selly Manor.
The Laurence Cadbury Collection
The museum has the Laurence Cadbury Collection. This is a special collection of furniture. It also has household items. They are set up to look like a house from the 1600s.
Laurence Cadbury was George Cadbury's fourth son. The collection at Selly Manor shows his love for collecting interesting things. Laurence started collecting around 1908. He was studying at Cambridge then. He kept collecting until the mid-1930s. Much of his collection was at his house. It was called The Davids in Northfield, Birmingham. But Selly Manor was perfect. It was a great home for the 16th and 17th century items he loved. You can see strong oak chests and fancy carvings. There is also a beautiful tapestry. And you can find unusual kitchen tools.
A special book has been made about the collection. It has full descriptions and pictures.
Laurence Cadbury's other papers are kept somewhere else. These include his diaries, letters, and maps. They are at the Cadbury Research Library. This is at the University of Birmingham.
Images for kids
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The Crooke Hall table on display at Selly Manor Museum. The carving states 'an arelome to this house forever'.
