Rare archives celebrating the people who have lived, worked and socialised in Bournville are on display as part of a free exhibition.
The Museum of Us exhibition is now open at the Rest House, which sits in the centre of Bournville Village Green, Sycamore Road.
Open until 13th September 2025, the fascinating exhibition will display objects from the Roger Cadbury Library and Archive that have never been on public display.
These include an admission book from Bournville Junior School from its opening in 1906, leatherwork tools used by students of Ruskin Hall Arts and Craft School in the 1940s and photos documenting self-build houses in Shenley.
The Museum of Us exhibition coincides with the 125th anniversary of Bournville Village Trust, a charity set up by Bournville’s founder George Cadbury in 1900.
India Wilson, Bournville Heritage Officer at Bournville Village Trust, said: “We are so excited to open the Museum of Us exhibition and share the experiences of those who are, and have been, part of Bournville Village Trust communities.
“As well as displaying archives from our own Library and Archives, we’re honoured to be showcasing personal objects kindly lent from members of the community.
“We’re also proud to hold the Museum of Us exhibition in the historic Rest House building which stands as a symbol of the Cadbury legacy, and of Bournville Village Trust, since its opening in 1914. Throughout the exhibition we would be delighted to hear people’s memories of being part of a Bournville Village Trust community.”
The Museum of Us exhibition will be open to view Wednesday-Saturday 12pm-4pm and is free to enter.
After the exhibition closes on 13th September, it will go on to tour all Bournville Village Trust neighbourhoods across central and south Birmingham and Telford.
To find out more about the Museum of Us exhibition, please go to https://sellymanormuseum.org.uk/events/2025-08-20/exhibition-the-museum-of-us-stories-from-the-bournville-village-trust
B31 Voices is run by volunteers and is committed to supporting communities across south west Birmingham and surrounding by keeping them informed and engaged. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Bluesky, Mastodon, Threads, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Support us by donating at www.b31.org.uk/donate. Send us local story ideas to hello@b31.org.uk
