Chocolate Factory Dormitories Evolve into a Village... Why Did Cadbury Build a Community? [Delicious Stories]

Cadbury Builds Bournville, a Village in the UK
Worker Housing Beside the Chocolate Factory Grows into a Community
A Company Advocating Workers' Rights Since the 1800s

Editor's NoteIt is said that the first confectionery was discovered in the ancient Mesopotamian civilization. In other words, sweets have accompanied every moment of human history. From biscuits and chocolate to ice cream, we bring you the delicious stories behind the treats we love.

Cadbury, the British company famous for its milk chocolate wrapped in vibrant purple packaging, has been recognized as a business that cared about the health and happiness of its workers since the 1800s, when the Industrial Revolution was just beginning. The chocolate factory and employee accommodations built by Cadbury evolved into a village, and more than a century later, they continue to thrive. How did Cadbury, a company that produced chocolate, end up founding a village?

The Village Built by a Chocolate Company: Bournville, UK

Cadbury's headquarters is located in the village of Bournville, on the outskirts of Birmingham, the United Kingdom's second-largest city. In the center of Bournville, there is a large park and a chocolate factory, where Cadbury's signature product, milk chocolate, is produced-about 47,000 tons annually. The BBC has described this as "the highest chocolate production volume in the UK."

The Cadbury British Bournville chocolate factory, established in 1878, has been actively operating to this day. YouTube capture

As of 2021, Bournville is home to around 19,000 residents, including both Cadbury employees and members of the general public. The 'Bournville Village Trust,' established by George Cadbury, the company's second-generation co-chairman, still manages the village today.

Worker Housing Grows into a Real Village

John Cadbury, the founder of Cadbury, was a devout Quaker (a denomination of British Protestantism) and a social activist. He started the business in 1824 by selling drinking chocolate, and from the very beginning, he is said to have prioritized worker safety and welfare.

John Cadbury's values were carried on by his sons, George and Richard Cadbury, who became the company's second-generation co-chairmen. In 1878, George purchased a remote plot of land 4 kilometers from downtown Birmingham and built a large chocolate factory, along with 16 buildings to serve as worker accommodations next to the factory. These accommodations marked the beginning of Bournville.

1880 British newspaper promoting Cadbury Bournville chocolate factory and accommodations. Online blog capture

At that time in the UK, it was common to build large dormitories next to factories for workers, and such settlements were often called "model villages." However, the brothers George and Richard were determined to make Bournville a proper residential community, rather than providing unsanitary and poor-quality housing. In 1893, they purchased a 120-acre (about 140,000 pyeong) site near the factory. This area became home to houses, various amenities, schools, and gardens. Cadbury workers began to regard Bournville not as mere accommodations, but as their real home, and Bournville grew into a true village.

In 2005, the Carnegie Foundation, established by American steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, awarded the Cadbury family the "Carnegie Medal" in recognition of their contributions to worker welfare through the creation of Bournville. At the time, the Carnegie Foundation stated, "Bournville was the only factory in Britain that provided workers with properly heated changing rooms and dining facilities," emphasizing that "George, the second-generation chairman, believed that factories should be 'good places to work.'"

The Entire Village Is a 'Dry Area'... Unique Rules

In 1900, George established the Bournville Village Trust to manage the assets of Bournville. The Trust still states that it manages Bournville as a "values-driven charitable organization" in line with the Cadbury family's beliefs. For example, the Trust manages 3,700 public housing units in Bournville and rents them to residents at affordable prices. It is also responsible for preserving buildings of architectural and historical value by designating "conservation areas" within Bournville.

The appearance of Hyundai Bonville. Screenshot from The Sun website

According to the Trust, Bournville residents are not required to convert to Quakerism. However, they must abide by the rules set by the Trust. Since its founding, Bournville was designated a "dry village" in accordance with the founder's wishes, which means that residents are not allowed to drink alcohol on the streets or open pubs. In 2015, the Bournville Trust permitted alcohol sales at only one newsstand located at the village's outer boundary, and the regulation designating Bournville as a dry village has been maintained to this day.