We have been caring for people for decades, but in 2024, under new ownership, we embarked on a fresh chapter: investing in the home, strengthening the care team, and building on the qualities that have always made this place special. Here's who we are and what we're about.
The Lodge is a Grade II listed building dating back to the 1800s, set in its own grounds in the historic Essex town of Maldon. It's been a care home for many years, and for all that time, it's had something that purpose-built facilities struggle to replicate: the character, warmth and proportions of a proper home.
In 2024, SDM Care Homes took ownership of The Lodge with a clear purpose: to invest in the home, strengthen the care team, and raise standards across the board, while keeping everything that families and residents already loved. Since then, we've made significant improvements to the building, the gardens, the systems and the resources available to our care team.
But the most important thing we did was back the right people. Our home manager, Clare Hatcher, leads The Lodge day-to-day with the kind of personal commitment you rarely see. In 2025, Clare was Highly Commended for Outstanding Leadership at the Essex Prosper Awards. She knows every resident by name, every family by face, and she sets the tone for the entire team.
The result is a home that combines real heritage with fresh investment. Period character with modern care standards. A small, family-sized home with 25 residents, where everyone is known as an individual.
The Lodge is a Grade II listed building, which means it's recognised by Historic England as a building of special architectural or historic interest. Dating back to the 1800s, it was built as a home, and that's exactly how it still feels: high ceilings, period features, natural light, and proportions that give every room a sense of space.
We have 17 private rooms and a small number of companion rooms, accommodating a total of 25 residents. Private rooms are fully furnished, and residents are welcome to bring personal belongings, photographs and small items of furniture to make their room feel like their own. Some rooms include en-suite facilities. Companion rooms are available for couples who wish to stay together, or for residents who prefer sharing.
The home has been thoughtfully adapted over the years to ensure accessibility and comfort without losing the character that makes it special. We have fully adapted bathing facilities and equipment for those who need additional support with mobility.
In 2025, our gardens received the Maldon in Bloom Gold Award, and when you visit, you'll see why. The Lodge sits in spacious grounds with large, mature gardens, a working vegetable patch, raised flower beds, fruit trees, and outdoor seating with views over the surrounding Essex countryside.
The gardens aren't just something to look at. They're a living, working part of daily life. Residents tend the raised beds and vegetable patch throughout the year, growing flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetables. In the warmer months, the garden becomes the centre of everything: tea parties, family visits, barbecues, and quiet afternoons in the sunshine. In the cooler months, there's always a view of green from the lounge.
For many families, the gardens are the thing that sets The Lodge apart. It's not a courtyard between buildings. It's a proper garden, with proper space, and it makes a real difference to how residents feel.
All meals at The Lodge are freshly prepared by our in-house kitchen team, who hold the highest five-star food hygiene rating. Three meals a day, plus snacks, refreshments and drinks throughout the day, all included in the weekly fee.
Dining is social. Residents eat together in our dining room, and menus are designed around what people actually enjoy. We cater for different dietary requirements and preferences, and residents are always involved in choosing what goes on the menu. If someone has a favourite dish, we'll make it.
We think the food matters more than most care homes give it credit for. A proper home-cooked meal, eaten together, is one of the simplest things that makes somewhere feel like home.
Clare Hatcher, Home Manager
Clare leads The Lodge day-tod-day and was Highly Commended for Outstanding Leadership at the Essex Prosper Awards in 2025. She knows every resident personally and sets the standard for the whole team. When families visit, Clare is usually the person who shows them around. Her door is always open.
SDM Care Homes
The Lodge is owned and operated by SDM Care Homes Ltd, who took over in 2024. Since then, SDM has invested significantly in the home, the gardens, the care team and the systems that support them. The directors work alongside Clare and the care team, providing the resources and backing to ensure The Lodge continues to improve. Their focus is simple: give Clare and her team everything they need to deliver outstanding care.
The best way to understand what The Lodge is all about, is to come and visit. You can walk around the house and the gardens, meet Clare and the team, sit down for a cup of tea, and see how it feels. There's no pressure and no obligation. Just an open door and a warm welcome.
