






MHA’s The Martins offers a truly unique setting, with a stunning cathedral just beyond its garden. The home provide residential and dementia care for 42 residents who enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of living next to a 1,000-year-old cathedral, complete with the sounds of bells and choirs, and direct access to the Abbey Gardens.
Vibrant and full of life throughout the seasons, the beautifully maintained grounds feature a charming summer...
Care Provided by The Martins
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
- Alcohol / Drug Misuse
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 42 Service Users
Dementia Care TypesMild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
Mild Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "mild dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Memory problems such as misplacing items and not be able to recall recent events (however, in some forms of dementia a person's memory may be unchanged)
- Difficulties thinking through problems and planning, making decisions
- Language and communication issues such as finding it difficult to recall the appropriate word in a conversation or following a conversation
- Poor orientation, getting lost in areas previously familiar to them
- Difficulty judging distances (more falls than usual)
- Changes in their normal mood including anxiety and depression
- In certain types of dementia, personality and behaviour changes may be present alongside or instead of issues with memory or concentration.
Moderate Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "moderate dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Worsened memory problems. Not always recognising own family members and friends. Repeating the same questions over and over again
- Worsened language and communication issues, forgetting what they are saying mid-sentence. Not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- More frequent confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Advanced Dementia
Someone living with our definition of "severe dementia" might experience some or all of the following:
- Severe memory problems. Not recognising family members and friends. Not being able to recall their own name
- Severe language and communication issues, not being able to understand what someone else is saying
- Severe confusion, e.g. about the time of day or where they are, including their own home
- Apathy, depression and anxiety
- Believing things that aren't true (paranoia)
- Frequent hallucinations
- Lack of emotional control, quick to anger, fearfulness, sadness
- Loss of inhibition
- Difficulties sleeping or waking during the night and behaving as though it is daytime - loss of circadian rhythm.
Verbally or physically aggressive behaviour
If your loved one displays this type of behaviour you may need a care home that has specially trained staff. Verbal/physical aggression is often defined:
- Consistent shouting and screaming
- Verbal abuse
- Physical abuse
How we define Dementia Care Types
- Mild Dementia
- Moderate Dementia
Other Care Provided
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- COPD/Pulmonary Disease
- Convalescent Care
- Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Minibus or other transport
- Lift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Residents Kitchenette
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact The Martins for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact The Martins to confirm what's included and get a personalised quote:
Funding Types Accepted
- Self-Funding (Private)
- Local Authority with Top-up
- Local Authority
- NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC)
Good to Know
Group / Owner
- MHA
- Voluntary / Not for Profit Owned
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 55+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
Room Information
- Single Rooms (42)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (42)
The Martins Reviews (46)
The Martins has a Review Score of 9.6 (9.610) out of 10, based on 12 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time The Martins has 46 reviews.
Mum moved in during September and was welcomed and made to feel at home. There are activities for residents should they wish to join in and good facilities including a hairdressers and lovely gardens.
Mum’s health has deteriorated recently but we feel reassured that she is being well looked after and treated with dignity and respect.
Mum recently celebrated her 90th birthday and the staff at The Martins made it a lovely day with tea, cake, and music which was enjoyed by family and other residents.
Most of all, The Martins gives us peace of mind. We were very lucky that Mum was able to join their ‘family.’
I am very glad that your Mum enjoyed her recent birthday, she is a joy to sit and chat with, and I always hear her having a good conversation with the hairdresser, when she visits.
Was greeted very well by all the employees I met, which were quite a few, during the lunch hour period. Was very impressed with all the staff taking care of everyone and helping them to the dining room. I was also asked if I wanted to join my mother for lunch which was very gracious and a surprise as I hadn’t made prior plans. Also impressed with the cleanliness of all the rooms I saw. Very nice place for my mother during these trying times of her having dementia.
Your mum has settled in very well at The Martins and enjoys reading her newspaper in the mornings, it is a privilege to care for her.
The manager.
Also some great carers. They give great service and the folks staying there are in good hands.
Keep up the great work all!
We are really pleased how well your mum has settled into The Martins and she is a joy to care for.
Her hair and nails look very nice and she is proud to show me. Her personal care is excellent. She has a good rapport with the staff who treat her with respect and dignity. She loves flowers that I bring and with help, she puts them into a vase. She loves word searching with staff who help her do jigsaws as well. She likes to check if the other residents are OK and asks them if they are alright. They are a small group and I think that suits Mum better, as she knows who everyone is and has become fond of them. Her diet is good and she has been assessed for a zimmer which was quickly acquired for her. I feel she is being looked after in a lovely, kind and familiar way by a professional team, who are approachable and help in any way. I feel I can speak to staff about anything at all, if I had any worries. A lovely, homely atmosphere.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review. I will ensure it is shared with the team.
The moment I stepped into The Martins, I knew it was the right home for my mum. It has the most lovely ambience. The staff went truly above and beyond in the care of my mum. So when I needed to find a place for my husband, who has Alzheimer's, The Martins was the obvious choice. They made the whole process so easy both for me and my husband. He is happy and content, and it's a huge relief to me, to know he is getting the best possible care. The staff are so kind and caring and have been a huge support to me personally.
I visited a number of care homes but was most impressed by the staff and facilities The Martins offered. The manager and her assistant visited us at home and were most supportive. My reservations about relocating my wife were quickly dispelled by the way she settled in so well and the staff's kindness.
Although visits have been restricted because of Covid-19, we have been able to communicate regularly thanks to staff going the extra mile. The quality of infection prevention has been outstanding. Weekly Zoom meetings between managers and relatives have kept me very well informed of progress with vaccinations and residents well-being.
I cannot speak more highly about the quality standards The Martins offers.
Thank you so much for your review. It is the support of yourself and our other families that have helped us all get through this.
The Martins have a good group of volunteers who go in on a regular basis to visit, lead games and organise fundraising events. All in all, a lovely home with a great atmosphere.
Thank you very much for your lovely review, and thank you for the amazing support you have given to the residents and staff throughout this very challenging year.
My mum moved into The Martins in January 2019 and has been very happy and very well looked after. The whole team have a very caring attitude and have worked extra hard to keep the residents safe during these difficult times.
Thank you so much for your lovely review; we look forward to seeing you and the family again soon.
The kindness and care Mum receives are exceptional. The warmth of the team and the support for the whole family is wonderful. The rooms are lovely, the views beautiful. Mum enjoys the food and friendships. A place to enjoy and feel at home. The staff are just so lovely, full of kindness. In a year of such Covid challenges, the team's dedication and smiles never waiver. The communication to the family and the sense of community is brilliant. I cannot praise the whole team enough.
The building is well-designed. Both the common areas and the individual residents' rooms are light and pleasantly furnished. There is a good-sized garden which is easily accessible by the residents.
Thank you so much for your lovely comments. Your Mum takes great pleasure being in the garden and could teach us all a thing or two about gardening. I will pass your comments onto the staff.
From the first moment, The Martins has felt like a real home, and we have always been welcomed as part of the Martins family. So when the restrictions were introduced early last year, we knew that mum would be safe and well looked after. We have not been disappointed.
We are only waiting for the day when we can all meet together again, like one big family. In the meantime, the home is making sure that we have good contact with Mum through regular video and telephone calls. And for that too, we are very grateful.
On top of all that, my mum has received excellent pastoral care from our wonderful chaplain.
Thank you so much for your lovely words; the whole team will be uplifted. We are very much looking forward to us all being together again.
Mum loved her room overlooking the garden and with the view of the cathedral in the background. I cannot thank the staff enough for helping settle mum and making it a home from home.
Thank you for your very kind words; your mum has settled in so well, it is lovely to see. I will pass your review on to the staff as it always lifts our spirits.
My mother has been in The Martins for over 8-years now, and throughout that time, has been looked after brilliantly. Nothing is too much trouble for the staff, and they care for Mum as though she were their own. It feels like a big family. When Mum came out of the hospital, having had a stroke, the welcome and care she received were second to none. Her physical needs are catered for with dignity and care, and her meals are adapted for her swallowing difficulties, and yet everything still looks and tastes appetizing. During the Covid pandemic, the staff have worked tirelessly to keep the residents safe and well, and I cannot praise them enough. I am so pleased we chose The Martins for Mum, and I would recommend them to everyone.
Thank you so much for your very kind words; it is we who are privileged to be part of your Mum’s life. Thank you for your continued support during these very challenging times.
This is an amazing well run care home! The standards and quality of management are exemplary. I would not hesitate to recommend it! They lead an excellent team. They were the first care home in the area to get the residents vaccinated for Covid. Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much for your very kind words. I would like to personally thank you for your continued support of the home during these extremely challenging times. I will be sharing this with the team as I know it will lift their spirits.
My mother has been in The Martins for 2 months now, she was very upset to start with, but she has settled down nicely now. It's a pleasure to go and visit her, the staff are brilliant, always ready to help. 13 members of the family went for dinner on Mother's Day. What a lovely meal, you couldn't fault it everyone is so friendly and it's so clean and never smells. Obviously, we were all very upset the day we took Mum in. The manager and the chaplain were so lovely and caring we feel we can go to them anytime.
Recently renovated and very well maintained.
I moved my sister to The Martins in February 2018. She has settled in very well and enjoys many of the daily options of interest that are available to her. The Martins is an excellent care home in every respect and I can't praise it highly enough. Truly superb - staff, care, food, everything!
The opportunity to discuss the ongoing relevance of existing care plan and to make appropriate amendments is very much appreciated.
This became more and more obvious as her needs progressed towards the end of her life when she did not want to go to hospital and was able to stay in her room. The staff made sure that her needs were met. It was clear that they knew my mum really well and were aware of her preferences, e.g. food etc. They really cared about my mum.
I felt confident that she was well looked after and grateful for the support given to my whole family. Thank you.
He had only been there for 4 months and during this time his care was exemplary. He was treated with respect and dignity and nothing was too much trouble. (Even though he could be taxing at times).
After his passing, the staff were brilliant and kept all the family fully informed during this sad time.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff (I could mention names but I'm worried I will miss someone) at The Martins for the care they gave my father during the short time he was there.I cannot praise the staff enough and would recommend The Martins to anybody who was thinking of taking advantage of this facility.
Thank you for your feedback regarding The Martins. Please accept my sincere condolences on the passing away of your father. Your comments regarding our staff team are very much appreciated and I will ensure that these are shared with the team.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 13 October 2022Good
- CaringOutstanding
- EffectiveGood
- ResponsiveGood
- SafeGood
- Well-ledGood
Inspection ratings
We rate most services according to how safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led they are, using four levels:
- Outstanding - The service is performing exceptionally well.
- Good - The service is performing well and meeting our expectations.
- Requires Improvement - The service isn't performing as well as it should and we have told the service how it must improve.
- Inadequate - The service is performing badly and we've taken action against the person or organisation that runs it.
- Not rated - we have not yet rated this area of the service, this is normally because the assessments we have carried out have been focused on other key questions.
Bed Vacancies
Please contact us for latest vacancies.
News (4) & Events (0)
- 30 Jan 2025
There’s nothing like MHA at Christmas. Our care homes, retirement living schemes, and communities are filled with tinsel, Christmas trees, and lights - a burst of light in the gloom...
- 30 Jan 2025
Working in social care is not for the faint hearted. Long hours, challenging circumstances and dealing with vulnerable individuals would put plenty of people off. Despite all this, 19-year-old Olivia...
- 30 Jan 2025
A 24-year-old care assistant working at MHA Heather Grange care home has been recognised for her tremendous work ethic and attitude and has been awarded the home's employee of the...
There are no upcoming events for The Martins.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for The Martins.
Meet the Team (1)

With a career in care spanning over 25 years, Melanie McGarr is the home manager at MHA The Martins. Mel brings a wealth of experience and dedication to supporting others, having begun her journey working for 18 years in a secure environment with adults living with learning difficulties and challenging behaviour, before changing her focus to older people’s care.
Joining MHA at a sister home, Mel spent 7 years progressing from Senior Care Assistant to Deputy Home Manager. From the outset, her goal was to become a Home Manager, and in January 2023, she was offered the opportunity on secondment to lead The Martins, a role made permanent the following year.
Passionate about helping residents live later life well, she approaches her role with warmth, commitment, and resilience. She recognises that while the role has its challenges, it is also deeply rewarding, and she feels fortunate to be able to make a positive difference every day.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact The Martins to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. The Martins has an Enhanced Service -more info.