A sensitive replica of an historic local manor – a former Cadbury family home – has been completed, 7 years after the original building was destroyed by arson.
The history of Northfield Manor House
The former home of George and Elizabeth Cadbury, Northfield Manor House was built in 1820 (although there was a manor house on the site since the early 1700s).
In the 1950’s the Manor House was converted to be used as halls of residence for the University of Birmingham and was used for this purpose until 2007.
The Grade A locally listed building then stood empty for several years and it was deemed by English Heritage that it did not fulfil the criteria for becoming a fully listed building building.
Sadly, however, the building was destroyed by fire in July 2014, following an arson attack.
The future of Manor House
In 2014, award-winning developer Crest Nicholson was granted planning permission to recreate the Manor House as an apartment building. Using historic records, including photographs and drawings dating back as far as the mid-1700s, architects created Manor House at Bournville Park.
The development houses 26 contemporary, open-plan apartments featuring traditional designs and period elements throughout – such as high ceilings, spacious rooms, large bay windows and double patio doors.
The building sits in a secluded, tranquil location, surrounded by open green space and overlooking Manor Farm Park below.
Richard Cowie, Technical Director at Crest Nicholson Midlands, said: “We worked with conservation officers to recreate the original building to the highest degree of authenticity and the result is stunning. As a former stately home with a large private driveway and a view overlooking beautiful green grounds, the development feels very grand. The layouts of each property have been expertly designed to incorporate the original period features. With a high specification throughout, Manor House offers residents all the benefits of a new build home, whilst also benefiting from the uniqueness and character behind this development.”
Matthew Williams, Director at HGP Architects, said: “With memories of playing in the front garden as children, the Cadbury family was very eager to see the building, and its surroundings, returned to their former glory. To be faithful to the original building, we trawled through historic records, examining old photos of moulding around chimneys and intricate brick detailing, to ensure the building was a true replica. We also sourced traditional tradespeople and materials from across the country to bring this home back to life and keep the legacy alive.”
Only a few apartments remain available to buy. To find out more, call Crest Nocholson on 0121 756 0953 or visit the development website.