Selly Manor Tudor House

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Tucked away in the heart of Bournville is Selly Manor . Originally built on Bournbrook Road on the outskirts of Selly Oak, this beautiful Tudor building was relocated and renovated by George Cadbury after falling into disrepair in the early 1900s. It became the centrepiece for his idealised village, opening as the magnificent heritage museum, which it still is today, in 1916.


The 14th-century building dates back to at least 1327 and provides a fabulous insight into the rich Tudor history of the area. Having lived very close for a while, I walked past it countless times but had never been in. It took until the annual Heritage Open Day with free entry for me to finally get out and explore. I was not disappointed.

Selly Manor is a spectacularly interactive museum; each room is set out much like a functioning Tudor house, with objects on display but not locked behind glass. The whole place has a very real feel to it, from the real fruit and vegetables on display in the kitchen and taxidermy animals, to the original furniture in every room. Selly Manor has really succeeded in capturing the authenticity of the place.


With colouring opportunities, costumes to try on, spices to smell and draws to open, it is an extremely child-friendly experience, letting them learn about the Tudor world in a tangible way that they can understand. The majority of the house is self-touring, with plenty of informative displays to explain the key features in each room. This is then supplemented by a wooden bound book, one for each room, which provides more detailed information, interesting facts and questions about the house. I love how easy it was to explore this fascinating house in your own time and in the amount of depth you desired.


The house contains a lot of winding stairs which could prove difficult for those with reduced mobility, however the downstairs rooms are relativity accessible and the installation of a computer with images and information about the house ensures nobody misses out.

A great place to explore, particularly on a wet day, it is definitely worth the £4 ticket price.

**
Opening Times:**
10am – 5pm Tuesday to Friday all year [excluding Christmas]
2pm-5pm From Easter weekend to the end of September

Ticket Prices (as of 2017):
Adults: £4.00
Concessions: £3.00
Children: £2.00
Family Ticket: £12.00 [two adults and three children under 16]

#bournville
#historic_houses
#history
#indoor
#west_midlands
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