Fornham House

Fornham St Martin, Bury St Edmunds IP31 1SR
Review Us
9.6 108 Reviews
  • Fornham House, Bury St Edmunds
Fornham House is located just a couple of miles from Bury St Edmunds, in the pretty village of Fornham St Martin. The home has extensive grounds with views over the surrounding countryside. The garden can be enjoyed by residents and visitors, with ample seating areas surrounded by colourful flower beds, mature trees, and a large pond with water features, aquatic plants and fish.

Fornham House provides seven lounges, including the Constable Lounge where many social activities take place, and these are complemented by patio and garden areas for summer outdoor relaxation. Accommodation is offered in generous, tastefully decorated single rooms (71 rooms in total), 63 of which have En-Suite facilities and 9 further with toilet and sink En-suite facilities, thereby providing residents with the necessary facilities for a quality life in later years. Although all rooms are fully furnished, residents are encouraged to bring items of furniture and personal possessions with them so that their room can be a true ‘home from home’.

The home now has a new purpose-built 17-bed extension. The design is beautiful, spacious yet intimate. It is safe, communal living at its best, with emphasis on individual care needs. Spacious corridors give accessibility from every area in the home, and allows residents to walk freely and safely. Access to the large decked area is gained through doors leading from the dining area. Doors in the corridor and lounge gives access to a peaceful, intimate indoor garden.

Residents are welcome to develop this garden further. This is where many residents will have the opportunity to potter at their hearts content. The beautiful soft colours of the walls and carpets will compliment all of your personal items, making it really feel like home.

Show Fornham House on the Map

Care Provided

Primary Care Categories

  • Older Person Care
  • Dementia

Length of Stay

  • Permanent Care
  • Respite Care

Care Types Provided

  • Residential Care
  • Dementia Residential Care
  • For a maximum of 88 Service Users

Dementia Care Types

  • Mild Dementia
  • Moderate Dementia
  • Advanced/Complex Dementia

Other Care Provided

  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Stroke
  • Palliative / End of Life Care

Facilities

  • Own Furniture if required
  • Smoking not permitted
  • Near Public Transport
  • Minibus or other transport
  • Lift
  • Wheelchair Access
  • Gardens
  • Phone Point in own room
  • Television point in own room
  • Residents Internet Access

Funding & Fees

Weekly Charges per Person

  • Self-Funded Residential Care: from £1450
  • Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: from £1450
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Care: from £1450
  • RESPITE Self-Funded Residential Dementia Care: from £1450

These prices are only a guideline, please contact Fornham House to find out the exact price for your requirements.

Funding Types Accepted

  • Self Funding (Private)
  • Local Authority with Top Up
  • Local Authority
  • NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)

Good to Know

Person in charge

  • Stuart Coleman (Home Manager)

Local Authority / Social Services

Admission Criteria

  • Ages 65+

Care Home Design/Build

  • Purpose Built: No

Room Information

  • Single Rooms (88)
  • Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (78)

Fornham House Reviews (108)

Total of 108, showing 101-108
9.6

Fornham House has a Review Score of 9.6 (9.634) out of 10, based on 22 reviews in the last 2 years. Over all time Fornham House has 108 reviews.

Overall Experience

  • 71
  • 32
  • 3
  • 1
  • 1

Date Published

108
12
15
22
86

Review from J P (Resident) published on 1 March 2016
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Very happy at Fornham House - staff very helpful. Food very good.

Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Review from Margaret W (Sister of Resident) published on 12 January 2016
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My brother stays for short periods of respite at Fornham House over a few years period, on each visit his care has been excellent, the rooms are always immaculate and he has used several, most of all he has enjoyed himself and people have gone out of their way to help and include him.

Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Review from Chris T (Son of Resident) published on 8 January 2016
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mother, now in her 90s is a bit of a 'loner' and has lived on her own next door to us. After a number of falls and repeated stays in hospital it became impossible for her to live alone. Even though it has been traumatic for her to now be in Fornham House Care Home, it was made so easy, welcoming
and especially caring, by all the staff and fellow residents with their relatives, that she has accepted that it is the best place for her to be. It, therefore, is extremely comforting for us and her relatives to know that she is being looked after so well, and is happy. We have all said that we have no hesitation in recommending Fornham House to anyone that has someone in need of care. We would sincerely like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff who have helped mum to settle in to her new home.

Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Review from Derrick W (Son of Resident) published on 6 January 2016
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

The staff are all very friendly and helpful. Impressed with the cleanliness, it always looks clean and tidy. Cannot comment on activities as my mother is unable/unwilling to participate due to hearing difficulties and lack of vision both of which are very limited. In all other respects it is an excellent
home.

Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Review from M B (Daughter of Resident) published on 6 January 2016
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

My mother is cared for by kind, caring staff. She is always a joy to visit. I have shared meals with her - excellent. Staff are very efficient. Her clothes are always clean and tidy - well laundered.
Her hair always cared for and tidy.
Often speak to other residents who always appear content.
My
mother has been at Fornham House for one year and is 97 years old.
Her health is carefully monitored by local doctors and any problems are reported and discussed with family.

Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Review from Jenny L (Daughter of Resident) published on 15 December 2015
Submitted via Website • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

My mother who is 95 had arrived at the place of not being able to shop or care for herself properly or remember to take her pills it had become a very worrying time for the family. She also had several falls resulting in hospital visits.


Life for her outside her home was becoming far too difficult,

all she was now seeing, was to look out of her window at people passing by.


She also did not like the hassle of the two carers who only had a very quick half hour to assist her in her home.
Since arriving at Fornham Residential Home she has taken on a new lease of life.


She has been encouraged to eat (good food well cooked) In the smart dinning room served by jolly happy staff and make many new friends.


When I arrived to see my mother on my last visit she said "I have bingo in ten minutes."


Wonderful......!!!! Fornham House is now her home and she wants to be fully involved with all the activities.


Her room and en suite bathroom are well laid out ..warm and kept well cleaned.


She has only good kind gossip to say about all the very patient helpful staff who assist her sometimes she sees over ten people a day helping her in her cosy room with her pills, her food, and lots of cups of tea!! and assisting with her dressage.


They make her feel special and do an excellent job of looking after her.

Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Review from J B (Daughter of Resident) published on 20 November 2015
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5

Our mother was discharged from hospital to Fornham House on 23rd May 2013, because it was a necessarily hurried move her first room was rather cramped and small en suite but she was soon found another room which was redecorated for her, her pictures put up and shelves arranged. Mother gradually became
herself again, mentally and physically taking an interest in the outside world and activities provided at Fornham House. I was especially impressed that trouble was taken to place her with like minded companions at lunch. We are so sorry that due to deteriorating health it has been necessary for mother to move to nursing care. We will miss the caring, welcoming staff at Fornham House. Thank you.

Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Review from Mike F (Nephew of Resident) published on 16 November 2015
Submitted via Postal Card • Report

Overall Experience  Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5

Both my uncle and aunt have been looked after very well, wanting for nothing. I have nothing but praise for the staff and management.

Facilities

Care / Support

Cleanliness

Treated with Dignity

Food & Drink

Staff

Activities

Management

Safety / Security

Rooms

Value for Money

Current Review Score: 9.6 (9.634)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.6 (9.634) out of 10 for Fornham House is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  • a) The Average Rating is 4.6 out of 5 from 22 Reviews in the last 24 months.

  • b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 21 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Care Home is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  • a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months.

    The Average Rating of 4.634 for Fornham House is calculated as follows: ( (198 Excellents x 5) + (44 Goods x 4) + (4 Satisfactorys x 3) + (2 Poors x 2) + (9 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 257 Ratings = 4.634

  • b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5').

    The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Fornham House is based on 21 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    • i) 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4

    • ii) 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the registered maximum number of service users in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Care Home registered for a maximum of 50 service users has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 88 registered maximum number of service users is 17.6, which has been reached with 21 Positive reviews. Points = 1

  • When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.

  • If a Care Home does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Regulatory Rating

Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating

Date: 5 Dec 2018

Overall
Good

  • Caring

    Good

  • Effective

    Good

  • Responsive

    Good

  • Safe

    Good

  • Well-led

    Good

Care Quality Commission is responsible for the registration and inspection of social care services in England.

View Latest Report

Bed Vacancies

5 Bed Vacancies

posted 15 Aug 2025

We provide permanent and respite accommodation for individuals with residential, respite, palliative, residencial dementia care and specialist care needs. Our services include complete en suite rooms and basin with WC rooms. Additionally, we offer privately funded, local authority, and NHS-funded placements.

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading

Loading events

Awards / Recognitions (9)

Meet the Team (9)

Stuart

Stuart Coleman

Job Title: Home Manager

Joined: 2025

I love the positive atmosphere here and enjoy getting to know our residents and their families. It’s a joy to see the team providing such thoughtful care each day. I’ve completed my NVQ Level 5 in Leadership and Management, along with a range of other care-related qualifications and experience which I use everyday in my role at Fornham House.

Magda

Magda Plant

Job Title: Assistant Manager

Joined: 2012

I love coming to work each day, it really feels like a home from home. I’ve built great connections across the team and enjoy supporting residents from their very first day. I’ve completed my Level 5 in Adult Social Care and training in end-of-life care.

Daniel

Daniel Phillips

Job Title: Head Chef

"I believe that it's important to be able to form good relationships with people, be good at cooking, budgeting and menu planning to be a successful head chef in a care home. My favourite part of my day is cooking to a high standard and receiving positive feedback from residents."

Stephanie

Stephanie Peacock

Job Title: Dementia Unit Lead

Joined: 2019

The home has such a warm, friendly feel, it’s like being part of a big family, and we all work so well together. I enjoy caring for residents each day and supporting them through their individual dementia journeys. I’ve completed a pre-nursing course in Ireland and my NVQ Level 3 in Adult Social Care here in the UK.

Charlie

Charlie Plant

Job Title: Unit Manager

Joined: 2018

I’ve built strong connections with healthcare professionals who support our residents, and I’m proud to be part of such a respectful and supportive team. I’ve completed my Level 3 in Adult Social Care, along with advanced training in End of Life care and Respect wishes. With over 10 years’ experience at Fornham House, I’ve grown a lot in my role and truly value the relationships I’ve built along the way.

Jemima

Jemima Gaskin

Job Title: Receptionist

Joined: 2023

I have over six years of care experience, which has given me the knowledge and empathy to support people living with dementia. I really enjoy meeting new people and having conversations with our residents. It's amazing what you can learn from a simple chat. I enrich their lives by listening, being present, and building strong relationships with both residents and their families.

Roela

Roela Vaughan

Job Title: Administrator

Joined: 2024

I’ve worked in the care industry since 2008, starting as a care assistant and progressing to Deputy Manager. After taking a break for family commitments, I’m really happy to be back doing what I love. I enjoy being there for residents and their families from the very beginning, helping them through the admission process and watching them settle and grow during their time with us. Building strong relationships is at the heart of what I do, and I take pride in making sure everything from contracts to care plans is handled smoothly and with care.

Mark

Mark Cummings

Job Title: Maintenance Lead

Joined: 2023

I love fixing things and working in a great team. With 30 years of ex-forces experience, plus a background in painting, decorating, gardening, and first response, I bring a wide range of skills to my role, and always make time for a chat or dance with the residents!

Annaka

Annaka De Freitas

Job Title: Front of House

Joined: 2022

I love making a difference in residents' lives and supporting their independence, whether it's with daily tasks, online shopping, or a friendly chat. With over 20 years in hospitality, I’m passionate about creating a warm and supportive environment.

Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact Fornham House to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Fornham House has an Enhanced Service - more info.