Cadbury Barn Story | Cadbury Barn Trust

Cadbury Barn Trust

The Cadbury Barn Trust was established in 2020 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registration number 1190666. It emerged from several years of discussions between a Stakeholder Group and Birmingham City Council about improving facilities at the main entrance to Manor Farm Park.

Consultations with park users have consistently shown a strong desire for refreshments, toilets, and flexible community space to support a range of park-based activities. The original vision was to meet this need by restoring and repurposing the Cadbury Barn.

Loss of the Cadbury Barn

Sadly, arsonists destroyed the Barn in 2017. The Stakeholder group agreed that their aim remained, to provide refreshment and toilet facilities appropriate to the modern day needs and desires of park users and the local community. The Cadbury Barn Trust was established to move forwards and find an alternative approach to meeting those needs.

Manor Farm Park and
its Cadbury heritage

Manor Farm Park in Northfield, Birmingham comprises 50 acres of parkland including woods, ornamental trees, streams, a lake and varied terrain and natural features as well as geological features, and evidence of historic agricultural land use, and ancient hedgerows.

The park was donated in trust to Birmingham City Council in George Cadbury’s will and passed to the Council on the death of his widow Dame Elizabeth Cadbury. This included the Cadbury Barn which had been built by the couple in 1895 to provide refreshments for visitors in particular those from the inner city who were invited to enjoy “a day in the country”. The site was also used for the training of members of the Friends Ambulance Unit during World War 2, which was entirely in line with George Cadbury’s philanthropy and ethos.