How Cadbury's rose: Nostalgic photos reveal how Britain's favourite chocolate manufacturer went from single shop to global empire over two centuries

  • Cadbury's was founded by John Cadbury who ran the business from a small shop in Birmingham from 1824
  • His son's Richard and George took over the business in 1861 and decided to move to large rural site in 1878 
  • Bournville complex four miles out of Birmingham was a haven for staff who lived there with activities to do 
  • It was taken over by American firm Kraft in 2010 but is still Britain's favourite voted best chocolate bar in 2018 

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Fascinating photos show how Cadbury's went from a single shop in Birmingham to being Britain's most loved chocolate makers.

The legendary brand started life as a tiny shop in Bull Street, Birmingham, selling tea, coffee and drinking chocolate from 1824.

Founder John Cadbury later expanded, selling different types of cocoa and moving to a factory in Bridge Street in 1831.

Eventually his sons Richard and George took over the business in 1861. They got fed up of the city slums so in 1878 moved to a rural site four miles out of Birmingham in a place called Bournville.

Taking the name of the model village Bournville grew into a haven for staff where they could live, work and play.

Amazing black and white images from a new book called A History of Cadbury show what life was like there, from crafting Easter eggs to playing football and cricket.

A fascinating collection of black and white pictures show how Cadbury's began as a small shop in Birmingham in 1824 and went on to become Britain's favourite chocolate manufacturer. This image shows an artist painting the new brand design  

A fascinating collection of black and white pictures show how Cadbury's began as a small shop in Birmingham in 1824 and went on to become Britain's favourite chocolate manufacturer. This image shows an artist painting the new brand design  

A steam train is pictured emblazoned with the Cadbury logo as it hauls ingredients to and from the firm's plant in Bournville, four miles from Birmingham. A new book by Diane Wordsworth tells the story of the much-loved chocolate brand 

A steam train is pictured emblazoned with the Cadbury logo as it hauls ingredients to and from the firm's plant in Bournville, four miles from Birmingham. A new book by Diane Wordsworth tells the story of the much-loved chocolate brand 

After founder John Cadbury got fed up of his small shop in the 1800 slums of Birmingham he moved the company to a huge greenfield site four miles away. It had plenty of room for staff to live and ended up with sports pitches and swimming pools as well. Staff days out were common and this group of workers are pictured arriving back on the train from one in Derby 

After founder John Cadbury got fed up of his small shop in the 1800 slums of Birmingham he moved the company to a huge greenfield site four miles away. It had plenty of room for staff to live and ended up with sports pitches and swimming pools as well. Staff days out were common and this group of workers are pictured arriving back on the train from one in Derby 

Into the twentieth century Cadbury's became a global player and with the birth of the Dairy Milk 1905 it was soon making millions and hurtling towards being Britain's favourite sweet treat.

Despite a hostile takeover by American food company Kraft in 2010 and customer fears the much-loved recipe of Dairy Milk would change, the Cadbury's brand is still stronger than ever and has survived for nearly 200 years.   

Rarely seen photographs in a book by Diane Wordsworth depict the men who made Cadbury's first mass produced drinking chocolate in the confectionary maker's first warehouse, a group of skilled women decorating delicious Easter eggs in the late 19th century, and a designer crafting one of Cadbury's instantly recognisable chocolate box covers.

Other images show workers enjoying the plush surroundings of the Bournville - a clean-cut 'factory in a garden' created by Cadbury's for the benefit of their staff. 

A happy workforce can be seen participating in a Swedish exercise class, the women's team lining up for a game of football and nervous youngsters preparing to learn to swim.

Happy staff are pictured crafting some of Cadbury's best loved chocolates in the factory in Bournville, near Birmingham 

Happy staff are pictured crafting some of Cadbury's best loved chocolates in the factory in Bournville, near Birmingham 

All present and correct! A female factory worker at Bournville is pictured weighing a Cadbury's Milk Tray to ensure everything is in order

All present and correct! A female factory worker at Bournville is pictured weighing a Cadbury's Milk Tray to ensure everything is in order

Ms Wordsworth said: 'The Cadburys as a family did much for social welfare and reform,' explained Wordsworth. Cadbury's as a firm did the same for their workers.

'Some may think the business was too patriarchal - and in today's climate they would probably be correct - but what this company did for workers' welfare in the middle of the nineteenth century and beyond should be held up as a model.

'The company and the family believed that a happy healthy workforce meant a happy healthy business. The fact that the firm is still here today, almost 200 years later, speaks for itself.'

In 1824, John Cadbury bought the shop in Bull Street with money given to him by his father, who owned the shop next door.

Alongside tea and coffee, John also sold cocoa beans which he turned into drinking chocolate. He saw the drink as a healthy alternative to alcohol - something John, being a Quaker, was keen to encourage.

His clientele agreed and the company grew exponentially in the 19th century under the stewardship of his sons, constantly expanding their range of drinking chocolates, the size of their business premises, and producing their first chocolate bar and Easter eggs in the 1870s.

Easter eggs were first produced in the UK in 1875. Here a group of factory workers are pictured putting the finishing touches to beautifully-crafted chocolate eggs complete with edible spring flowers on the top 

Easter eggs were first produced in the UK in 1875. Here a group of factory workers are pictured putting the finishing touches to beautifully-crafted chocolate eggs complete with edible spring flowers on the top 

'By 1879, the factory in Bridge Street was deemed unsuitable, and not just because of its small size,' explained Ms Wordsworth.

'The location of the factory also caused the brothers some discomfort. As committed Quakers and members of the Society of Friends, they believed in providing a workplace in pleasant surroundings away from the dirt, grime and overcrowding of what had now become a small city.

'Enter the new premises at Bournville - a town that didn't even exist until the Cadburys moved their chocolate factory there.

'And it wasn't just a factory - it became a way of life, with green fields, habitable housing and good working conditions.

'Very good working conditions that any company today would be proud of.'

A Bournville Cocoa cart pulled by two horses is pictured riding through the streets of Birmingham in 1915 

A Bournville Cocoa cart pulled by two horses is pictured riding through the streets of Birmingham in 1915 

Happy 100 years: The sheer number of staff employed at the Bournville Cadbury's plant is made clear in this picture from 1931. The congregation was organised to celebrate 100 years since the opening of the factory 

Happy 100 years: The sheer number of staff employed at the Bournville Cadbury's plant is made clear in this picture from 1931. The congregation was organised to celebrate 100 years since the opening of the factory 

Alongside semi-detached cottages with gardens for the workers, there was a field next to the factory where men and could play cricket and football; a garden and playground for the girls; and proper welfare provisions.

Over the years, sports facilities grew to include hockey, tennis, squash and bowling facilities.

Eventually, swimming pools were built with everyone in Bournville taught how to swim.

Staff days out were common, and for workers living outside of Bournville, Cadbury's negotiated reduced train fares with the local railway company. Education was made available for everyone and the company actively encouraged vocations outside of their business interest.

A place of virtuous living, no pub was allowed in Bournville, a rule which still applies today.

The Cadbury family worked tirelessly to ensure slavery was abolished and that their workers farming cocoa abroad were paid. Here a group of cocoa farmers are pictured showing off their haul before it was shipped to the UK by boat 

The Cadbury family worked tirelessly to ensure slavery was abolished and that their workers farming cocoa abroad were paid. Here a group of cocoa farmers are pictured showing off their haul before it was shipped to the UK by boat 

Nowadays, Bournville is made up of 7,800 homes on 1,000 acres of land with 10 per cent of the space dedicated to parks and open spaces. It remains a popular residential area of Birmingham.

In 2009, the American food company Kraft Foods launched a hostile takeover bid that was initially resisted by the board at Cadbury's.

Despite protestations, the American company won their bid. Although initially promising that British factories would be kept open, Kraft closed the Somerdale factory in Bristol (formerly owned by Fry's) in 2011.

Following its successful takeover Kraft named the spin-off company Mondelz International in 2012. In 2016, Mondelz came under fire for not keeping its promise to continue making chocolate at Bournville. Instead, it moved some of its manufacturing to Poland.

But following a £75 million investment in the Birmingham plant, it looks as though they have made a new promise to return Cadbury's Dairy Milk to the UK.

In 2018, Cadbury Dairy Milk was crowned as Britain's favourite chocolate bar, proving the confectionery's lasting appeal.  

The man behind the chocolate: John Cadbury who founded Cadbury's in 1824 is pictured in a black and white portrait. He was born in 1801 and died in 1889. He passed on the business to his sons Richard and George who oversaw the move to Bournville

The man behind the chocolate: John Cadbury who founded Cadbury's in 1824 is pictured in a black and white portrait. He was born in 1801 and died in 1889. He passed on the business to his sons Richard and George who oversaw the move to Bournville

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