9.8 out of 10
Independently verified family reviews on carehome.co.uk
Award-Winning Home
Essex County Council Prosper Award and Maldon in Bloom Gold 2025
Grade II Listed
A home with real character in rural Essex
Why Families Across Essex Choose The Lodge
We welcome families from right across the county. From Chelmsford and Colchester to Southend and Braintree, people choose The Lodge because it's genuinely different from the larger, newer homes they've visited elsewhere. A listed building with history. Award-winning gardens with real space. A care team that knows every resident personally. That combination is hard to find.
A Home with Nearly 200 Years of Character
The Lodge is a Grade II listed building dating back to the 1800s. It has the high ceilings, period proportions and warmth of a proper home, because that's what it was built to be.
With 17 private rooms and a small number of companion rooms, it's home to just 25 residents. The atmosphere is closer to a large family home than anything institutional.
Gold Award-Winning Gardens
In 2025, our gardens received the Maldon in Bloom Gold Award. Residents tend raised flower beds, a large vegetable patch and fruit trees.
There's outdoor seating with views over the Essex countryside, and in the warmer months, the gardens host tea parties, family gatherings and community events. For many families, seeing the gardens for the first time is the moment they know.
Well-Connected Across Essex
Maldon sits in central Essex with straightforward road links in every direction. Chelmsford is about 20 minutes away, Witham 15 minutes, Colchester around 35 minutes, Braintree roughly 25 minutes, and Southend approximately 40 minutes. There's free on-site parking for every visit.
Clear Honest Pricing
We know that cost matters, and we believe that families deserve to know exactly what they're paying for. At The Lodge, your weekly fee covers everything. There are no hidden extras and no surprise charges.
Private Rooms
From £1,250 per week, all-inclusive
A private, furnished room in a beautiful, listed building, with the option to bring personal belongings and furniture to make it your own. Some rooms include en-suite facilities.
Looking for short term respite care?
Everything Included
Whether private or companion room, your weekly fee covers:
- Home-cooked meals, snacks and drinks
- A full daily activities programme
- Personalised care tailored to individual needs
- Dementia care at no additional cost
- Wi-Fi for residents and visitors
- Netflix and Amazon Prime Video streaming
- Full housekeeping, laundry and maintenance
Talk to us about costs and funding: 01621 398 582
Life at The Lodge
A Place Where People Actually Live, Not Just Exist
We don't believe in parking residents in front of a television. Every day at The Lodge has structure, variety and choice. But nothing is forced. If someone wants to join the gardening group, brilliant. If they'd rather read the paper in the lounge, that's just as good.
The Gardens
The centrepiece of life at The Lodge. Gold award-winning, resident-tended, and used every day that the weather allows! With raised beds and a vegetable patch, outdoor seating and countryside views. In the summer, the gardens host everything from tea parties to family barbecues. In the winter, there's always a view of green from the lounge.
Activities & Entertainment
The weekly programme includes arts and crafts, music sessions, gentle exercise, quizzes, baking, and interactive games using our smart projector system. We also arrange regular outings into Maldon town. The schedule changes based on what residents are enjoying, not what's easiest to organise.
Open to Family, Open to Community
There are no fixed visiting hours. Families come and go as they please, and many get involved in events and activities. We run seasonal celebrations, open days and community gatherings that make The Lodge feel like part of the town, not somewhere separate from it.
Reviews for The Lodge Care Home
Here's a selection of independently collected and verified reviews from Carehome.co.uk:
Recognised for Exceptional Care
The Lodge has been recognised twice by independent bodies for the quality of what we do. In 2023, we received the Prosper Achievement Award from Essex County Council for our standards of care. In 2025, our gardens won the Maldon in Bloom Gold Award, recognising the outdoor environment our residents, families and team have created together.
Our home manager, Clare Hatcher, was Highly Commended for Outstanding Leadership at the Essex Prosper Awards in 2025. It's recognition that reflects something families see every day at The Lodge: a home that's led with genuine care, not just managed. Clare knows every resident personally and sets the standard for the whole team.
When we say The Lodge feels like a family, it starts with her. Read our case studies to see the difference we make
Our 9.8 out of 10 review score on carehome.co.uk, collected independently from families and visitors, backs up what those awards reflect.
But the feedback that means the most to us comes from the families who visit every week and tell us their mum or dad is happier than they've been in years. That's what we're here for.
Respite Stays
Sometimes families need a bit of breathing space, or a loved one needs short-term care while recovering or while longer-term arrangements are being made. We offer respite stays from a minimum of two weeks, subject to availability.
It's also a lovely way to experience life at The Lodge before committing to a longer stay. Many of our permanent residents started with a respite visit and decided they didn't want to leave.
Ask about availability: 01621 398 582
Frequently Asked Questions
Where in Essex is The Lodge?
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We're in Maldon, a historic riverside town in central Essex. Chelmsford is about 20 minutes by car, Witham 15 minutes, Colchester around 35 minutes, Braintree roughly 25 minutes, and Southend approximately 40 minutes. Free on-site parking.
What is the building like?
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The Lodge is a Grade II listed building dating back to the 1800s. It has real character: high ceilings, period features, natural light, and the proportions of a proper home. The gardens won the Maldon in Bloom Gold Award in 2025. It's very different from a modern purpose-built facility - it has a lot of character.
How big is The Lodge?
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We have 25 beds across 17 private rooms and a small number of companion rooms. We're deliberately small because the best care happens when the team genuinely knows every resident.
Do you accept residents from across Essex?
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Yes. We welcome families from anywhere in the county and beyond. We also work with Essex County Council on funded placements across Essex.
What does it cost?
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Private rooms start from £1,250 per week, all-inclusive. Companion rooms are available from £950 per week. Everything is included: meals, activities, care, laundry, Wi-Fi and streaming. No hidden charges.
Is dementia care extra?
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No. Dementia care is part of the standard weekly fee. We think it's wrong to charge families more when they're already dealing with so much.
Can I come and look around?
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Please do. We'd always rather you visit, see the house and gardens, meet the team and get a proper feel for the place before making any decisions. Call 01621 398 582 to arrange a time.
What care do you provide?
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Residential care and dementia care, with individual plans for every resident. Our team provides 24-hour care. We also offer short-term respite stays from two weeks.
When can family visit?
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Any time. We don't have restricted visiting hours. Family and friends are welcome throughout the day.
What happens on a typical day?
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Every day is different. There's a full activities programme, meals throughout the day, time in the award-winning gardens when the weather's good, and quiet moments too. Nothing is compulsory. Residents choose how they spend their time.