Blue Plaque: Christian Kunzle

Christian Kunzle was a Swiss-born confectioner and philanthropist who made a significant impact on Birmingham through his successful business and extensive charitable work.

From parliament kitchens to Birmingham bakehouse
Born on 24th May 1879 in Switzerland, Kunzle arrived in England at the age of 17. He trained as a confectioner and worked in the kitchens of the House of Commons before establishing his own business. In 1902, he opened a small bakehouse in Snow Hill, Birmingham, and by 1903, he had a shop in the Midland Arcade. His venture quickly proved successful, leading him to move his main manufacturing premises to 156 Broad Street by 1905. The “Kunzle Cake” factory at Five Ways became a well-known landmark in Birmingham.

A heart as big as his business
Kunzle was not only a successful businessman but also a dedicated humanitarian. When he inherited a chateau in Davos, Switzerland, he extended its use to his employees, offering them a place for rest and recuperation with expenses covered and wages paid. His philanthropy extended to the wider community, particularly children. In 1932, he was elected President of the Birmingham Children’s Hospital. He transformed his chateau in Davos into a holiday home for children suffering from tuberculosis and respiratory diseases, believing that the clean mountain air would aid their recovery. The first group of 36 children from Birmingham Children’s Hospital arrived in 1932.

Philanthropic to the end
Christian Kunzle and his wife Clara originally lived at the factory premises at Five Ways before moving to Ley Hill House in Northfield.  In 1952, Kunzle donated the land of Ley Hill House to the people of Birmingham to form what is now Ley Hill Park.  He passed away on 10th January 1954 in Edgbaston, Birmingham, at the age of 74. He was cremated at Lodge Hill, and his ashes were buried with his wife in St. Leonard Churchyard, Frankley.