Affordable retirement bungalows available now in Turvey
The Barton and Royle Homes in Turvey are made up of 26 self-contained one-bedroom bungalows, with sitting room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. They are run by a Board of Trustees who administer the charity.
Each home has been designed for independent living, but with support and companionship when you need it – there’s a community hall for events and a guest bungalow where visiting friends and relatives can stay. There is a warden assistance scheme and an emergency call system, for the comfort and safety of residents.
It is now looking for two new beneficiaries for the bungalows currently being refurbished.
What is Barton and Royle Homes?
It’s an almshouse charity, and while it has been offering accommodation in Turvey since the late 19th century, the ethos of the almshouse organisation has a heritage over 1000 years old.
The original almshouses in Turvey were built by The Barton Charity, which had been established in 1881. The manufacturer James Barton Esq, of Camden Road, London, wanted to provide an “asylum for deserving and necessitous poor of Turvey and Bedford”. In 1884 he made a “deed of gift of land at Turvey” and an endowment fund of £15,833, 6 shillings and 8 pence of shares for the maintenance and support of “the inmates of the charity.” The charity itself was the ‘James, Mary and Louisa Barton Charity.’
In 1955 increasing costs led to an amalgamation of this charity with the Sir George Royle Trust, which had been created a few years earlier through provision made in the will of Sir George Royle (a former Mayor of Bedford). Hence the Barton and Royle Homes were born.
Modern properties
When the homes were built in 1885 each resident had a bedroom and living room, with a shared washhouse, kitchen and scullery, in a large Victorian building.
The old building was demolished in the early 1960s and 26 small bungalows were built on the site. Each bungalow has a bedroom and sitting room and a modern kitchen and shower room. There is also a small garden plot attached to each, and the lawns are kept in good order by the Board of Trustees.
A beautiful stained-glass window from the memorial hall was preserved and now has pride of place in the present community hall.
While the homes are out of the main village, there is a bus service along the main road linking Turvey and Bedford, and there is a friendly and welcoming community at the Homes themselves. A separate, private retirement village is currently being built next door, and, when it opens, Barton and Royle residents will be able to use its facilities, such as the shop and hairdresser.
Current vacancies
There are two bungalows currently vacant at Barton and Royle, Turvey. Both are being fully refurbished, making them the perfect new home for a single person, or a couple, who would be capable of independent living but who would like to live in a welcoming, supportive community. Prospective applicants should be able to demonstrate a connection to Bedford Borough – or the surrounding villages – and a financial or social need.
How to apply
If you would like more information about the charity or the accommodation available, please contact the Clerk – Sue Newman – at [email protected] or telephone 07846 879444.