Local History Heroes John Cadbury ...
If you haven’t heard of John Cadbury, you’ll almost certainly have heard of (and tasted) Cadbury’s chocolate. Born in 1802, John Cadbury managed to build up a tiny business into the multi-billion pound company today that is Cadbury’s. Cadbury chocolate is shipped to all over the world- and guess where it’s manufactured? Here- in Birmingham. The Cadbury family saw the potential that the small village of Bournbrook had, and rapidly developed it into the major suburb of Bournville that we know today.
John Cadbury was born in 1802 in Birmingham to a wealthy Quaker family. He was not allowed to enter university (because he was a Quaker) so instead he began an apprenticeship at a tea dealers in Leeds in 1818. In 1824 John returned to Birmingham and opened a small, one-man grocery shop at 93 Bull Street. He sold tea and coffee, with a small sideline of drinking chocolate which he prepared himself with a mortar and pestle. In 1926 he married Priscilla Ann Dymond, but sadly she died two years later.
Cadbury had very strong beliefs. He felt that alcohol was a major cause of poverty and social problems. He was also a strong opponent to cruelty to animals. In fact, he helped form the Animal Friends Society, the forerunner of the RSPCA. He manufactured chocolate as an alternative in the hope that people would stop drinking alcohol. In 1931 he saw that chocolate was the way to go and rented a small malthouse in Crooked Lane which he used as a factory. In 1832 John married again- this time to Candia Barrow. They had seven children- John, Richard, Maria, George, Joseph, Edward and Henry.
In 1847 the business moved to larger premises in Bridge Street, which had its own private canal spur linking the factory via the Birmingham Navigation Canal to the major ports of Britain. Work continued here for 32 years. Also in 1847 John’s brother, Benjamin Cadbury, joined the business.
However, 2 years later in 1849 the brothers pulled out of the retail business leaving it to their nephew Richard Cadbury Barrow. In 1861 John and Benjamin dissolved their partnership and John retired completely, leaving the business to his sons Richard and George.
By 1978 the business had expanded so much that more space was needed. Therefore, Richard and George Cadbury decided to relocate to Bournville, where the Cadbury business continues to this day.