Course Venue – Birmingham, The Beeches, Bournville
APAC is delivering the accredited Introductory One
Day and Certificate
in Therapeutic Play courses at The Beeches, Bournville, West
Midlands. The centre will be easily accessible by road and rail from the North
West of England, North Wales, Yorkshire and the Midlands. See drive time map.
In 1878 the Cadbury family set out to build a new site for
their rapidly expanding chocolate business. As well as a new factory, part of
their vision involved providing a high quality housing development to improve
the quality of life for their workers and families.
Bournville (Bourn from the River Bourn, and Ville after the
French word for town, as French influence was very fashionable at the time) was
the creation of George Cadbury rather than the Cadburys company. George
Cadbury's second wife, Elizabeth, was also heavily involved in philanthropy.
Together they opened Woodlands Hospital in Northfield and built The Beeches,
originally as a rest home for Salvation Army officers and later a country home
where children from the inner city could holiday.
Between the 1920s and 1940s the Beeches underwent several
different uses, including a temporary hospital for First World War soldiers, a
training centre for social workers operating in the city, and a girls’ school
house.
After the Second World War the Cadbury Brothers purchased
the property from the Bournville Trust and a retail shop training programme was
set up. The Beeches became known as The Beeches College, advertised as a
residential college for men and women who intend to make careers in the grocery
and confectionary trade. Activities began with the first post-war Summer School
of the Institute of Certified Grocers, with courses designed to help servicemen
learn the retail trade following the war.
The old common room was converted to a lecture room and the
craft house was used for practical activities such as display, bacon cutting
and coffee roasting. One room of the college was converted into a completely
equipped shop with a mobile shop window.
Address: 76 Selly Oak Road, Bournville, Birmingham B30 1LS
Phone: 0121 433 3311
Directions from the M6
From Junction 6 follow signs to BIRMINGHAM CITY CENTRE -
A38(M). Keep in the right-hand lane onto the flyover. Stay in the right hand
lane and go under three underpasses. Continue on the A38 straight on through
SELLY OAK. After half a mile at the foot of a hill there is a pedestrian
bridge, immediately before turn left into BOURNVILLE LANE, a Police Station is
on the corner. Approximately half a mile up the hill, take a left turn into
SELLY OAK ROAD. The Beeches is 100 yards down on the left hand side.
Directions from the M42
From Junction 2 turn onto A441 TO BIRMINGHAM. Continue over
next four islands (becomes Pershore Road South). At the next island (you are
now in Cotteridge with shops on your left) turn left into MIDDLETON HALL ROAD
and you will immediately cross a pedestrian crossing. Take the third turn on
the right into SELLY OAK ROAD (just before a set of pedestrian lights).
Continue over two roundabouts and one crossroads. The Beeches will be 100 yards
down on the left hand side.
Directions from the M5
From Junction 4 follow A38 Birmingham signs. At island, turn
left into A38 BRISTOL ROAD and continue through traffic lights at Northfield.
When you pass “BOURNVILLE COLLEGE” get into right hand lane and U-turn through
gap on the dual carriageway. You are now on the other side of the carriageway –
take left into BOURNVILLE LANE next to a Police Station. Approximately half a
mile up the hill take a left turn into SELLY OAK ROAD – THE BEECHES is 100
yards down on the left hand side.
The closest train station is Bournville Station with trains
running to and from Birmingham New Street approximately every 10 minutes.
- Take the Bournville Lane exit
- From here you can catch a taxi (2-3 minute journey)
- Elite Cars Taxi Number: 0800 635 5000
Or you can walk which takes 10-15 minutes
Walking directions from Bournville Train Station to The
Beeches:
- Follow the road straight, past the Cadbury’s Factory.
- Cross at the pedestrian lights on Linden Road. As you
cross you will see a pedestrian/cycle path. Take the path straight to Selly Oak
Road.
- You will see the venue as you approach the end of the
footpath.
