About Us

“Holdenhurst provides affordable housing in a thriving community”

Abbeyfield South Downs

The development of Holdenhurst marks a new chapter for Abbeyfield South Downs, providing exceptional Care Enabled housing for the local community. We are incredibly proud to have obtained funding and support to build a development that is somewhat unique in our region.

“Holdenhurst provides affordable housing in a thriving community. With support from Homes England, we are proud to offer a full rental development. This makes it special as it enables people to enjoy the beautiful homes we are offering, at a price that is within reach for everyone.”

Nolan Taylor, Chief Executive

We are a registered charity and operate on a not-for-profit basis. We share fundamental principles with the national Abbeyfield Society, revolving around the support, care, lifestyle and wellbeing of older people.

The Abbeyfield ethos

The Abbeyfield Society was founded by Richard Carr-Gomm in 1956 to alleviate loneliness among older people who were living unsupported and with little contact with others. Today, there are hundreds of Abbeyfield properties nationwide, some managed centrally by the National Society, but most are managed by individual independent Abbeyfield members.

Abbeyfield houses maintain a fundamental purpose which reflects Richard Carr-Gomm’s original approach. Our services are designed to alleviate loneliness, by providing contact with others in a partly-shared environment.

Our History

In addition to Holdenhurst, we have six supported living houses for older people, located in Alfriston, Eastbourne (two houses), Hove, St Leonards-on-Sea and Tunbridge Wells. Abbeyfield South Downs came into existence in 2011 and was a merger of the then Brighton and Hove, Eastbourne and Sussex Weald Abbeyfields. An integral part of the process was the support of the national Abbeyfield Society, which included the donation of their only East Sussex property in St Leonards-on-Sea. In 2016, Abbeyfield Tunbridge Wells joined and then in 2017, the Alfriston and District Abbeyfield passed their house to Abbeyfield South Downs.