ABOUT
WelcometotheKeynshamHeritageOpenDays2025Guide!This isaHeritageFestivalforALLwithsomethingforeveryonewhetheryou'reanadult,teenagerortoddler.What'smore,allthe activitiesarecompletelyFREEtoexplore.
2025marksthefourthtimethatculturalvenues,businessesand communitygroupsinKeynshamhavecometogethertocelebrate England'sbiggestHeritageFestival.
We'reshowcasingthephenomenalhistoryofourtown,fromthe Romanstothepresentday.There'ssomethingtodoandseeevery day.
Fullyaccessibleeventsandactivitiesaremarkedwiththissymbol. Somevenuesarepartiallyaccessible-formoreinformation,usethe contactdetailsprovided.
Venuesprovidingrefreshments(freeofchargeorforasmalldonation) aremarkedwiththissymbol.HighStreetcafesandrestaurantsarealso openasusual.
Opendayswithfreefamilyactivitiesaremarkedwiththis symbol-formoreinformation,usethecontactdetailsprovided.
Did You Know?
In June 1685, James, the Protestant Duke of Monmouth, triedtooverthrowhisuncle,KingJamesII,aCatholic.The Rebellionwasmainlyinthewest,andMonmouthmarched fromLymeRegis,gathering6,000menbyTaunton.Totake Bristol,heneededtocrosstheAvonatKeynshamviathe CountyBridge.TheKingsenttroopsanddestroyedthe bridge,butMonmouthrepaireditandcampednearby.Afterminorskirmisheswith the King’s troops, Monmouth chose not to attack, losing the initiative. Retreating intoSomerset,hisarmywasdefeatedatSedgemoor,leavingKeynshamasthehigh pointofoneofEngland’smajorrebellions. There
Peter Pan Statue
Monmouth Rebellion
Fry’s&Cadbury’sQuakerheritagefosteredafamily-likemanagementstyle,offering goodpay,workingconditions,andwelfareamenities.In1928,employeesfundeda PeterPanstatuetohonorJosephFry’s200thbirthday,symbolizingeternalyouth
andthecompany’sspirit.Originallyplacednearthefactory entrance, it was moved outside E Block and later donated to the Children’s Hospice at Wraxall in 2010. When Major EgbertCadburyretiredin1963,aleadreplicaofthestatue wascarvedforhimandaduplicateofthisisnowdisplayed at Somerdale, as part of preserving Keynsham’s chocolate factorylegacy.
On10July1968,continuousraincausedtheRiverAvonandChewtooverflow, leadingtoKeynsham’sworstflood. Aboutmidnight, a10-foot“wallofwater”
Keynsham Flood rushed down the River Chew, destroying bridges, sweeping away cars, and flooding homes. Three lives were lost. Many residents were rescued by boat, with some sheltering in village halls. Afterwards, Keynsham saw the Army install temporaryBaileybridgesasthecommunityworked togethertoclearmudandrepairdamage.
1
Discoverbeautifulgardensinthe remainsofthemedievalabbey. AbbeyPark,BS312BT
3
RomanArtefacts KeynshamLibrary,MarketWalk, Keynsham,BS311FS
5
Walkinthefootstepsofthe Wesleys.KeynshamMethodist Church,CharltonRoad,BS312JA
2
Havetea&cakeinahistoric industrialsetting.AlbertMill,Dapps Hill,BS311UL
4
GuidedWalkthroughKeynsham’s History. MeetBathHillEastcarpark,covering variouslocations
6
DiscoverHiddenHistoriesat KeynshamCemetery. DurleyHill,BS312AJ
3 6
5
4
1
PickuptheDiscoveryTrailfrom KeynshamTownCouncilOffices (15-17TempleStreet)anyday
Monday-Friday 8:30am-4.00pm.
2
WHAT'S ON
1. Keynsham Abbey Open Days
Dateandtime: 13&20September,2pmto5pm.
Location: KeynshamAbbey,AbbeyPark,BS312BT what3words:///locate.snail.timing
Organiser: KeynshamAbbeyWorkingGroup
About:StrollthelandscapedremainsofthissignificantMedievalAbbey,founded in1166.Guidedtalkswillbeheldat2.30pm,aswellasa“MonkTrail”aimedat youngerchildrentotakethemthroughthelifeofamonk
Suitablefor:Everyoneiswelcome.Guidedtalkisaimedatadults.
2. Albert Mill Heritage Weekend
Dateandtime: 13&14Sept,10am-4pm
Location: AlbertMill,DappsHill,BS311UL what3words:///bared.placed.rams
Organiser: AlbertMillManagementCompany
About:Thisisauniqueopportunitytowanderaroundthisstunningmilldating backto1700's.Themainmillroomhasoriginalmachineryinsitu.Therewillbe residentsonsitewithawealthofknowledgetoansweryourquestions. Beautifulsunnygardenswithawaterwheelmakestheperfectplacetorelax andhaveacupofteaandcake!
Suitablefor:Everyoneiswelcome.Thisisanoldbuilding,withstepsand unevenground.Pre-bookingnotrequired.NotsuitableforWheelchairaccess
3. Roman Artefacts
Dateandtime: 13Sept,3pm-4pm
Location: KeynshamLibrary
MarketWalk,Keynsham,BS311FS what3words:///letter.other.cattle
Organiser: KeynshamTownCouncilandKeynshamLibrary
About:ExploreauniquecollectionofRomanartefactsuncoveredrightherein KeynshamduringthedevelopmentoftheSomerdaleEstate.
Gethands-onexperiencewiththesefascinatingobjectsandlearnabouttheirusesin Romantimes.
Joinusforafreeinteractivesessionwhereyouandyourlittleoneswillbeguided backintimetoexploredailylifeinRomanBritain.
Suitablefor:Everyoneiswelcome.Pre-Bookingnotrequired
4. Guided Walk through the History of Keynsham
Dateandtime: 14Sept,11am
Location:
BathHillEastCarPark,bythefootbridge what3words://////quest.debit.member
Organiser: Keynsham&SaltfordLocalHistorySociety
About:JoinPaulineMousleyoftheKeynsham&SaltfordLocalHistorySocietyfora guidedwalkaroundKeynshamTownCentrelookingatthebuildingsandchanges overtheyears.WewillcoverDappsHill,TempleStreetandtheHighStreetending attheParishChurch.Approximately1mile,allonpavementsandlastingabout1½ hours.
Suitablefor:Everyoneiswelcome.Pre-bookingnotrequired.
5. Keynsham Methodism - In the Footsteps of the Wesleys
Dateandtime: 15,17&18Sept,10am-12pm
Location:
KeynshamMethodistChurch,CharltonRoad what3words:///slam.frame.daisy
Organiser: KeynshamMethodistChurch
About:Explore,seeandlistentothehistoryofMethodismfromthe1700stotoday. OurCuratorswillintroduceyoutothestoryofhowJohnandCharlesWesley,and Methodistssince,haveinfluencedthegrowthanddevelopmentoflifeinKeynsham. TakeintheChurch'sbeautifuloriginalfeatures,enjoyanorganrecitaldailyat11am, andbrowseadisplayofarchivephotographs.
Suitablefor:Everyoneiswelcome.Pre-bookingnotrequired.
6. Hidden Histories at Keynsham Cemetery
Dateandtime: 20Sept,10amto2pm
Location:
DurleyHillCemetery,DurleyHill,BS312AJ what3words:///frosted.plot.enjoy
Organiser: KeynshamTownCouncil
About: KeynshamCemeteryisapeacefulVictorianburialgroundandthelocationof amajorRomanarchaeologicalsite.DiscovertheunusualListedChapelandreadour informationboards.
Suitablefor:Everyoneiswelcome.Pre-bookingnotrequired.
