Celebrating 60 Years
Supporting Older People Across Bristol Since 1966
Abbeyfield Bristol & Keynsham has been helping older people live independently, safely and happily for more than half a century.
Our story began on 1 March 1966 when the Abbeyfield Bristol Society was established by a group of local volunteers and community leaders who shared a vision of providing friendly, affordable housing for older people. Inspired by the national Abbeyfield movement founded by Richard Carr-Gomm, the Society was created to offer companionship, security and support within local communities.
The Society’s first home opened in Clifton in 1968, providing accommodation for six residents. What started as a single house quickly grew through the dedication of volunteers, local churches, service organisations and supporters across Bristol. Over the following two decades, new houses were established throughout the city, extending Abbeyfield’s reach into communities including Redland, Montpelier, Bishopston, Henleaze, Knowle and Cotham.
Pictured above: the Society’s first ever house at 5 Hughenden Road in Clifton, 61/63 Richmond Road in Montpelier, 11 Maurice Road in St Andrews, 187 Wells Road in South Bristol, 222 Redland Road in Redland and 43/45 Westbury Road in Henleaze.
A defining feature of Abbeyfield Bristol’s history has always been community involvement. Local organisations including the Cabot Lions Club, Westbury-on-Trym Round Table, churches, schools and countless volunteers helped raise funds, support residents and establish new houses. Their commitment enabled the Society to grow steadily while remaining true to its charitable purpose.
During the 1970s and 1980s the organisation expanded rapidly, opening specialist accommodation as residents’ needs evolved. In 1978, Abbeyfield Bristol established its first Extra Care House at Redland Road, providing additional support for older people requiring higher levels of assistance while maintaining the warmth and independence that Abbeyfield is known for.
The Society’s achievements were recognised nationally when HRH The Prince of Wales, then Royal Patron of Abbeyfield, visited the Extra Care House in Redland in 1980 and met residents, volunteers and trustees.
By its twentieth anniversary in 1986, Abbeyfield Bristol had become the largest Abbeyfield Society in England and Wales, operating twelve houses across the city.
Pictured above: HRH The Prince of Wales, then Royal Patron of Abbeyfield, visited the Extra Care House in Redland in 1980.
The Beginning of Abbeyfield Bristol & Keynsham Society
A significant milestone in our history came in 2013, when the Abbeyfield Keynsham Society joined Abbeyfield Bristol. This brought together two organisations with shared values, creating the Abbeyfield Bristol & Keynsham Society. The merger strengthened our ability to serve local communities and extended our reach beyond Bristol into Keynsham, while maintaining our commitment to providing high-quality housing and support for older people.
Following this union, the Society continued to invest in its homes and services, including the opening of Kift Lodge in Hanham in 2014 after land was bequeathed by local Peter Kift. These investments reflected our ongoing commitment to creating comfortable, modern homes that help older people remain independent, connected and active within their communities.
Today, Abbeyfield Bristol & Keynsham continues to build on those foundations, combining the values of friendship, community and independence that inspired the original founders. Our four houses: Abbeyfield House Keynsham, Abbeyfield House Henleaze, Kift Lodge in Hanham and Abbeyfield House Redland continue the original values of Abbeyfield with a commitment to meeting the needs of older adults in the twenty-first century.
Keynsham
Henleaze
Hanham
Redland
Today, Abbeyfield Bristol & Keynsham Society remains an independent local charity and a proud member of the wider Abbeyfield England movement. Building on a heritage that spans more than 60 years, we continue to provide welcoming homes, supportive communities and opportunities for older people to live life their way.
Abbeyfield Houses Over the Years
The below timeline shows where Abbeyfield Bristol Society and Abbeyfield Bristol & Keynsham opened houses over the last 60 years.