[1] From Leverton & Halls cafe (A), facing the cafe, turn right – opposite are the Almshouses (B). Turn right to cross Mary Vale Road at the bollards and turn right.

(A) The Tudor style shops at the start are thought to be the first shops in Bournville – built in 1897. The first houses in Bournville were built in 1895 on the north side of Maryvale Road.

(B) The Almshouses – 33 of them, with free coal, water and gas, were built 1897-8 for over-60s, preference being given to Cadburys employees.

[2] At the roundabout at the end of Mary Vale Road, turn left into Selly Oak Road and cross Beaumont Road to reach the zebra crossing near St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School. Cross here and turn left to continue along Selly Oak Road.

[3] Turn right into Oak Farm Road and continue on pavement to turn right again into Lake View Close. Through the second gate on the right, enter Rowheath Park (C). At the cross-paths by the information board on the right, turn left and go ahead, passing paths to the right, to exit the park through the fence gap.

(C) Rowheath Farm estate was bought by Cadburys and the Bournville Village Trust in 1911 mainly for recreation. In more recent years, Rowheath Park was the setting for a joint project by the Bournville Village Trust and the Environment Agency entitled Get Hooked On Angling intended, with considerable success, to tackle local issues.

[4] Leaving the Park, turn right onto Heath Road to The Pavilion (D). Cross Heath Road at the pelican crossing and turn right.

(D) The Pavilion was built in 1924 by the Cadbury family as a changing room and clubhouse and is now the base for The Pavilion Christian Community. Here there are function rooms available for hire.

[5] At the roundabout, cross Selly Oak Road to rejoin Mary Vale Road and return to the start point.

Notes

Acknowledgements