To celebrate the upcoming 100th anniversary of Southampton’s Mansbridge estate in 2025, Abri, a large housing provider with roots in Mansbridge and 700 homes there, is hosting a series of Mansbridge Memory sessions at the Round About Café on Westfield Corner (Mansbridge).
The first of the sessions – which has been organised by Abri’s community development team - was a great success, bringing together residents past and present of Mansbridge, local councillors and Abri colleagues to celebrate the estate's heritage as they shared stories, memories, and experiences of Mansbridge’s rich local history.
Attendees enjoyed a nostalgic journey through old photographs, original blueprints, and took part in a lively discussion about life in Mansbridge and the changes they’ve seen, whilst enjoying food and drink at the Round About Cafe, one of Abri’s community cafes.
The history of Mansbridge
Swaythling Housing Society is the founding housing association of the Abri group and was co-founded by Herbert Collins in 1925, when its first homes were built in Mansbridge. Through its journey into the organisation that it is today, one thing has stayed constant: its commitment to creating quality homes and thriving communities.
Housing estates are vital, yet often underestimated places of heritage. They are not just places where people live, but are places where people grow up, have families, build relationships, create communities and so much more.
Some of the attendees shared their thoughts on the session and project.
Councillor Thomas Gravatt (Swaythling Ward), said:
“It's wonderful to dive into the history of this estate and the people that live here and the amazing history around Herbert Collins and Swaythling Housing Association.
“Hopefully by bringing these memories and some of the people from the community together, we can build on the community spirit and get to the bottom of what has made it a fantastic place to live over the last hundred years.”
Councillor Matt Bunday (Swaythling Ward) reflected on his experiences growing up on the Mansbridge estate:
“One of my first memories was riding my bike around Mansbridge. I remember thinking how open and amazing it is that you could ride a bike everywhere, especially in the summer. It has stood the test of time and offers a vibrant area where you feel close to nature.
“I’m really excited to see what will come out of this project in the next year. If you get a chance, you should come along to these sessions and get involved with the heritage project.”
Robert, a retired architect and an expert on Herbert Collins architecture, also attended the recent Mansbridge Memories session and added:
“I am pleased that Abri has chosen to celebrate the centenary of the founding of Swaythling Housing Society with the Mansbridge Heritage Project.
“Herbert Collins always planned Swaythling as more than just a housing estate: he envisioned a society in which opportunities would be available for community activities. I hope that this project will engage residents of all ages and help them - and others - to understand why it is so special and to be proud about where they live.”
Cara Headon, Community Development Officer at Abri, said:
“The Mansbridge Memory sessions have gone brilliantly so far, we’ve already had so many people in the community getting involved and sharing their memories of life in Mansbridge.
“With this project, we hope to increase the sense of community pride and put Mansbridge on the map by increasing its profile as a place of interest in Hampshire. There is so much history here, with links to the Spitfire fighter plane, a church built in the Norman times, the Stoneham Estate and the Fleming family, and that’s without mentioning the Swaythling Housing Society- pioneers of social housing.”
Helen Wilson, Abri’s Regional Managing Director (South), was also in attendance.
Abri welcomes any current or former residents of Mansbridge, as well as anyone who has a connection to the area to join a future Mansbridge Memories session.