On Saturday 13th September, the Bournville based company opened the Cadbury Archives to the public, which features documents dating back as far as 1842, as well as familiar advertising collections and historic materials relating to the Cadbury business.

Having recently undergone a substantial refurbishment last year to celebrate 200 years of Cadbury, the Archives showcase nearly 50,000 items of Cadbury memorabilia and are home to some of the rarest Cadbury documents in the world, including Richard Cadbury’s personal watercolour book from 1866.

Tickets to visit the Archives sold out in just 30 minutes, offering those lucky enough to secure their spot the chance to explore the extensive collection with a one-hour guided tour organised by Bournville Village Trust and Mondelēz International.

Located inside the Men’s Pavilion in Bournville, the War Memorial Room was also opened to the public, where the dedicated archive team at Mondelēz International created a special exhibition on Cadbury in WWI and WWII, as well as running a film on how the Cadbury business operated during WWI.

For the second year running, Mondelēz International opened its Concert Hall, originally opened in 1927, where visitors learned about its unique history and enjoyed live music and performances on the stage.

Sarah Foden, information manager and archivist at Mondelēz International, said: “We’re delighted to participate in Bournville Heritage Open Day for another exciting year, offering the public the opportunity to explore the unique, rich history of Cadbury.

“Bournville has been at the heart of Cadbury for more than 200 years, and we are incredibly proud of our history and the legacy of this area. We very much enjoyed welcoming the public to enjoy our Cadbury Archives, Concert Hall, and War Memorial Room as part of this year’s Bournville Heritage Open Day events, where we celebrated the rich heritage and community spirit that make Bournville so special.”

Daniel Callicott, Heritage Manager at Bournville Village Trust said: “Bournville Heritage Open Day is a celebration of George Cadbury’s garden village, bringing 18 community venues together to highlight the legacy and remarkable vision the Cadbury family had in creating Bournville.

“This event involves the whole community in showcasing the fantastic buildings and activities of the area, and we’re delighted to have partnered with Mondelēz International for another successful year, providing access to some popular Cadbury locations offering the public the chance to reminisce and discover important heritage in their doorstep.”