Bournville in Rugby

The new building was officially opened as an Adult School on the weekend of the 16th October 1909. A contemporary account of the opening described the building: three class rooms were separated by a folding wooded partitions around a central pillar, so one single space could be created as needed.

As the reporter approvingly noted, 'Efforts have been made to erect a useful building free from expensive ornamentation, and yet of such treatment that the whole will be picturesquely effective...Hand-made sand stock bricks, together with hand-made antique tiles, and oak porch, oak gates and fence, with a little colour gained by insertions of rough-cast, go to make up the effects.'

H. Bedford Tyler succeeded W.H.Harvey as architect to the Bournville Village Trust in 1904. His style was a less fussy half-timbered or Voysey-esque style, combined with picturesque planning. The demolition and re-siting of a few genuine Tudor half-timbered houses fostered the impression of a pre-industrial community. It was this style that Tyler bought to Rugby.

At the time Rugby Quakers were members of the Warwickshire Area Meeting of Quakers. So when fundraising for a meeting house began some affluent Birmingham Quakers contributed. The contributors included the Cadbury's family of Bournville and chocolate fame but also the Lloyd's family, the founders of Lloyds bank.

Opened in the same year as when King Edward VII opened the Temple Speech Room but with much less pomp and ceremony.

Timings & Tours

Saturday 13 September:

1100-1600

Saturday 20 September:

1100-1600

Location & directions

28 Regent Place, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 2PN

Directions:

Today Regent Place also has a statue of poet and former Rugbian Rupert Brooke

Contact on day:

Nick Matthews

Telephone number:

+447740386278

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Additional information

Max no of people per tour:

20

Est. tour duration:

1 hour(s) 0 minute(s)

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