Friday Photo: Bournville Junior School

My first Friday photo is something that I pass locally and often admire: the square entrance tower of Bournville Junior School. The building is Grade II listed and was built on Bournville Village Green in 1905. It was designed by local architect William Alexander Harvey, who was also responsible for most of the houses on the Bournville Estate. The school definitely shows elements of the Arts and Crafts influenced ‘Bournville Style’ he developed, the oriel windows and carvings make it decisively ornate for a junior school building. Atop the tower is the domed, copper clad cupola that houses the Bournville Carillon. It currently has 48 bells, making it one of the largest in the UK, though originally there were only 22, with more having been given in memory of George Cadbury by his wife and son. The sound of the carillon can be heard across the suburb every Saturday and on special occasions, such as the annual Christmas Eve carol service.