






Dauntsey House's site was originally endowed by Alderman William Dauntsey as a grammar school for boys in the 16th Century. In a will dated 10th March 1542, Dauntsey gave the Mercers' Company lands to enable them to build a schoolhouse for a grammar school at West Lavington as well as supporting seven of the village's poor in an almshouse.
Rebuilt in 1860, Dauntsey House has had several different uses, including...
Care Provided by Dauntsey House
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Mental Health Condition
- Physical Disability
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- For a maximum of 21 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
- Advanced/Complex Dementia
Other Care Provided
- Parkinson's Disease
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- COPD/Pulmonary Disease
- Bariatric Care/Obesity
- Convalescent Care
- Day Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Smoking not permitted
- Close to Local shops
- Near Public Transport
- Lift
- Stairlift
- Wheelchair Access
- Gardens
- Phone Point in own room
- Television point in own room
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
Weekly fees include all Care, Accommodation, Meals, Drinks and Laundry.
Additional charges are in place for optional chiropodist and hairdressing appointments. Newspaper deliveries can also be arranged at an additional cost.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Dauntsey House for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Dauntsey House 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
Owner
- Dauntsey House Care Ltd
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Rayna Read (Registered Care Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: No
- Number of floors: 3
Room Information
- Single Rooms (19)
- Couples/Companion Rooms (1)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (1)
- Couples/Companion Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (1)
Visiting
- Family and friends welcome to visit at anytime between the hours of 0800 and 2000. Evening visits are available by prior arrangement.
Parking
- On street parking is available in Duck Street and White Street in West Lavington.
Dauntsey House Reviews (18)
Dauntsey House has a Review Score of 8.2 (8.238) out of 10, based on 1 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Dauntsey House has 18 reviews.
Due to our move to Wiltshire we needed to find a care home for mum and a room at Dauntsey House became available. As a family we all visited and checked it out and were instantly impressed with how it is run and laid out and that it is not clinical in any way and more like a real home for the residents. Residents are encouraged to bring items from home so we were able to set mum's room up with personal belongings to ensure she felt at home. I was concerned mum wouldn't integrate herself with activities and other residents but she does get involved when she wants to and the choice is always hers. Mum enjoys the food and says there are two options for lunch and a lighter evening option like sandwiches. The staff are incredible and nothing seems to be too much trouble and they are brilliant with mum, who is severely disabled and cannot walk or manage a lot of daily tasks. The building, despite being old, is always warm and mum has told us that we couldn't have found her a better place.
Thank you the manager and team for your support, care, professionalism and personalised empathy for Mum.
Dauntsey House has a caring, friendly and professional team who work so hard to look after the needs of all the residents. The organised events and activities are excellent, they always try to include everyone and regularly arrange visits from outside entertainers and organisations. The food is very good, with an excellent choice option. Everyone involved plays a major part in making the home so special.
Dauntsey House is in a lovely setting with extensive gardens that the residents use regularly. There is a very proactive activities team that stages a wide variety of topical activities that include external visitors and contemporary themed events.
The internal of the building looks a little 'tired' in places, as do some items of furniture, but overall, it is very homely.
The staff appear well managed and motivated and generate a positive atmosphere at Dauntsey House.
We are very pleased with the care and attention our mother receives. The carers and all other staff are friendly and attentive, both to her and to visitors. The entertainment and activities are excellent and attention is given to ensuring there is something for everyone to be involved with. The staff are professional, but always ready to talk and laugh with the residents, making for a good atmosphere. The cleanliness is good and, although the building is old, any issues are dealt with quickly.
From the first time I visited Dauntsey care home, I was met with a warm and welcoming atmosphere, a friendly and well-managed establishment. The place is clean and bright. I saw many very competent staff dealing well with individual residents' needs. I saw activities for the residents to join in with, or not if they didn't want to, and there is lots of information to hand both for residents and visitors. The care home manager is outstanding in her running of the home.
The level of communication between the home manager and staff with us has been and always is excellent.
Although the home has a number of residents, I strongly feel that the level of care is personally tailored to each resident and everyone there is treated as an individual, the quality of care is outstanding! The grounds are stunning and well kept and for me, a big thing that I like about Dauntsey is that it isn't a clinical home, it has a special homely feel. All of the staff there are wonderful and clearly love their jobs and I feel that is very important, The over all vibe of Dauntsey is calm and serene.
The two ladies from the activity team go above and beyond with their duties. Giving both one-on-one activity care and group care. They are both dedicated and highly enthusiastic with all they do. I have never had any concerns with the care given. Dauntsey House is a no-frills down-to-earth home from home what you see is exactly what you get. What more could you want for your nearest and dearest?
Top marks for all.
During the last three years of my mother's life she was extremely happy at Dauntsey House. The staff al became like family to her and she could not praise them highly enough. Sadly she passed away in October last year, but the loving care that she, and my sister and I received could not be faulted. She died peacefully in her own "home" surrounded by such tender, loving care that I shall always be grateful to all the staff for their devotion.
My mother was being neglected in a private care home where she had been staying in, so we moved her to Dauntsey where the carers care. Her personal hygiene was second to none her hair, nails, feet and teeth were always clean. Her room was fresh, her clothes were changed regularly she wasn't left in dirty underwear or outerwear. She was showered and bathed regularly and encouraged to join in quizzes and sing-alongs. The carers were friendly and attentive. They chatted and laughed with her. When she became bedridden they made sure she was turned regularly and creams rubbed into her so no sores.
My old mum was at another care home, but the level of cleanliness and care was not good, I therefore transferred her to Dauntsey House in West Lavington. The level of care she received at Dauntsey House, was excellent, all the staff treated her as if she was their mum! they were caring, clean and highly efficient to mums personal needs, bathing and cleanliness in person and dress dramatically improved. I have nothing but praise for all the kindness shown by all the staff.
Professional staff, good activities, food was always great. Always treated with kindness and dignity. Better value than similar care homes in the area that didn't have the same level of activities or that showed genuine care for their residents like this home does.
The staff are a wonderful team. Nothing was too much trouble for them and with only 20 residents to look after, they all knew each person as an individual and cared for them with genuine warmth and respect. Larger homes may have more impressive facilities but I think the warm family feel amongst residents and staff at Dauntsey house is irreplaceable.
Mum was given excellent care during her time at Dauntsey house. I couldn't have wished for better.
Dauntsey House is care home with warm caring staff who care for each resident individually, treating them with warmth, respect and dignity and with a sense of fun. Our mum always looked happy and cared for and she enjoyed the food provided. Dauntsey is as close to a persons own home you could wish for. If you want a happy, relaxed home then I would recommend it. The staff and residents always looked happy and we were always welcomed. The 'good' marks should be 'very good', we never had any worries or concerns and staff would let us know what was needed, which also makes them good at communicating. They are supported very well by the GP and community nurses. The team is hard working, dedicated and kind.
Staff were caring, compassionate and welcoming. I felt reassured my father being there. I would use this service again without a doubt. Wonderful management and staff.
My brother is very pleased how well its worked out living at Dauntsey House. The staff are wonderful loving caring people. There is nothing more to say we are very very lucky. Lets have more places like this.
My mum has been at Dauntsey House for nearly 3 years. The staff are excellent, very caring, supportive and nothing is too much trouble. There is a lot of flexibility around things like meal times, menu choice and activities. The environment is very friendly and relaxed. The home is old with some lovely features like big windows but is always kept warm, it has the feel of a country home hotel. We are very happy that mum has been able to stay here.
I think my brother is well looked after and we are very pleased that we chose this home. My brother is very happy here.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 29 October 2025Good
- CaringGood
- 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 (0) & Events (0)
There are no news items for Dauntsey House.
There are no upcoming events for Dauntsey House.
Awards / Recognitions (0)
There are currently no awards/recognitions posted yet for Dauntsey House.
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Dauntsey House.
Meet the Team (2)

Stephen purchased Dauntsey House Care Home in 2005.
He has been working in care since he was 15 years old at The Avenue Care Home owned by his family. Steve became a Registered Nurse at the age of 21 and gained experience with the NHS as a staff nurse. Steve retains his RGN status today. In 2006 he became the owner/director of The Avenue Care Home followed by Blackbrook House. He obtained his Diploma in Management at the same time.

Rayna became the Registered Care Manager for Dauntsey House in 2022. Since leaving college in 1997, she has been involved in the Health and Social Care Sector. Starting a career in childcare she moved to adult care in 2010. Rayna has obtained her Level 3 in Health and Social Care and Level 5 in Health & Social Care Leadership and Management.
Prior to arriving at Dauntsey House Rayna was a Registered Care Manager for two other care providers and offers a vast amount of knowledge and experience in the role.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dauntsey House
What types of Care is Dauntsey House registered for?
Older Person Care, Dementia, Mental Health Condition, Physical Disability, Visual / Hearing Impairment are the registered (by the Care Quality Commission) categories of Care.
How many Rooms does Dauntsey House have?
There are 19 Single Rooms and 1 Couples/Companion Room.
What are the Facilities & Services at Dauntsey House?
Own Furniture if required, Pet Friendly (or by arrangement), Smoking not permitted, Close to Local shops, Near Public Transport, Lift, Stairlift, Wheelchair Access, Gardens, Phone Point in own room, Television point in own room, Residents Internet Access are some of the Facilities & Services.
How far is Dauntsey House to the centre of Devizes?
5.1 mile(s) as the crow flies, distance by road may be significantly further.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact Dauntsey House to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Dauntsey House has an Enhanced Service -more info.