| Description | In the years before World War One, across the National Adult School Union, Adult School Guest Houses were acquired by the County Adult Unions so that they could hold summer or winter schools, lectures, conferences and holidays for their members. In Birmingham, from 1907 until the outbreak of World War One, Barrow Cadbury and his wife Geraldine gave the Midland Adult School Union the use of their house, Uffculme in Moseley, for this purpose.
After the War, in order to obtain its own property, the Midland Adult School Union decided to issue ownership shares and eventually in 1920 it was able to purchase the 'Manor House' at Bewdley, Worcestershire with a terraced garden at the rear.
The Manor House was administered by a Committee established for this purpose. The house was available for use by all Adult Schools across the country, including National Committees. During the week it was customary for them to open for use by outside bodies, without whose custom, the maintenance would have been and eventually became precarious.
A Committee was appointed by the Executive of the Midland Adult School Union to manage affairs relating to Bewdley Guest House from its opening on 3rd July 1920 until the first meeting of the Trustees in 16th June 1922. The Trustees were responsible for the administration of the Guest House and met at least twice a year.
Trustees included: A. S. Cudworth, Catharine Albright, Walter Barrow, Wilfred Southall, W. H, Sturge, Paul S. Cadbury, Miss F.N. Potter, H. Burgess Smith, Ralph Priestman, Michael H. Cadbury, Joseph A. Gillett, W. Keith Rowntree, Dr Kenneth H. Southall, Laurence Burton, Wilfred Leighton, Frank A. Morris, Leonard Wicksted.
The Guest House closed in July 1959 and was sold in 1961/2. |