Rest House Update - Feb 2026
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Plans for the Rest House to become a heritage centre for Bournville are moving forward. The Heritage Team for Bournville Village Trust has been awarded funding from Arts Council England, through Museum Development Midlands, to carry out work that will create a clear vision for the future of the Rest House. Over the next 6 months we will be carrying out a Feasibility Study, further public consultation and fundraising.
The Rest House sits in the centre of Bournville Green and was gifted to George and Elizabeth Cadbury by Cadbury workers to mark the couples’ silver wedding anniversary. Until March 2025, it was managed as a visitor centre and craft shop by the Friends of Bournville Carillon. They took the difficult decision to dissolve following an increase in operational and financial demands.
The Rest House, which dates back to 1913, is now managed by Bournville Village Trust which wants the building to continue to benefit the community as a public heritage centre to celebrate Bournville. Since it came back into our care, the Rest House has hosted a number of events including the ‘Museum of Us’ exhibition which welcomed over 2,000 visitors.
These events have given us the opportunity to start consulting the community on what the building could offer as a heritage centre. The funding from Arts Council England will allow us to carry out further consultation and then create a clear vision for the Rest House’s future.
The Rest House has a wonderful heritage, and we know it’s treasured and loved by so many people, which is why we are committed to making sure it continues to benefit the community as a public heritage centre.
Upcoming Events at the Rest House
Throughout 2026, the Rest House will host a number of exciting events, as well as support community-wide celebrations and activities.
Exhibition: icons & instigators
14th + 15th March 2026
An exhibition celebrating the women of Bournville who have made a significant and important contribution, as part of Women’s History Month
Films of Bournville
27th March 2026
Public screenings of rare archival films of Bournville from the 1940s and 50s, which were recently digitised and originally from the Roger Cadbury Library at BVT
Bournville Through Time
7th – 11th April 2026
An exhibition in conjunction with the Bournville Society, sharing a wealth of archival images of Bournville to celebrate what makes the garden village special
Fragments - a community exhibition
26th 27th 28th May – 3rd 4th 5th 6th June 2026
A display of the work of local groups who have participated in workshops to learn new skills and bring people together
Bournville Heritage Open Day 2026
12th September 2026
The annual event celebrating the garden village and the Cadbury legacy at venues right across Bournville
Free entry to all the above events. For further details please visit our Events page.
If you would like to know more, or have any enquiries regarding the Rest House please contact:
The Heritage Team
Selly Manor Museum | Maple Road | Bournville | B30 2AE
0121 472 0199
sellymanor@bvt.org.uk or use the contact form below