
My husband was taken here two weeks ago. Amazing care has been provided to him as well as meSue B(Wife of Resident/Service User)

Thank you one and all for taking such fantastic care of my husband. I love you all.Caroline C(Wife of Resident/Service User)


My husband was taken here two weeks ago. Amazing care has been provided to him as well as meSue B(Wife of Resident/Service User)

Thank you one and all for taking such fantastic care of my husband. I love you all.Caroline C(Wife of Resident/Service User)


With its own extensive grounds, Dudwell St Mary is conveniently situated on the outskirts of Burwash Village, East Sussex, a very short distance from both Etchingham and Heathfield, 15 miles from Tunbridge Wells, 16 miles from Hastings and 19 miles from Eastbourne.
Dudwell St Mary is a stunning home based on the site of a former convent, with historic character and beautiful features and is tastefully decorated.
They provide first-class care...
Care Provided by Barchester Dudwell St Mary Care Home
Primary Care Categories
- Older Person Care
- Dementia
- Visual / Hearing Impairment
Length of Stay
- Permanent Care
- Respite Care
Care Types Provided
- Residential Care
- Nursing Care
- Dementia Residential Care
- Dementia Nursing Care
- For a maximum of 65 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
- Stroke
- Palliative / End of Life Care
- COPD/Pulmonary Disease
- Convalescent Care
Facilities
- Own Furniture if required
- Pet Friendly (or by arrangement)
- Smoking not permitted
- 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
- Residents Internet Access
Funding & Fees
Weekly Charges per Person
This Weekly Fee rate is an indication only of a typical standard fee rate for a resident living in a standard, comfortable room. A final Weekly Fee rate will be confirmed once we have carried out a pre-admission needs assessment. For nursing care, Weekly Fee rate will be dependent on personal needs.
The price(s) shown are provided by the care home. Contact Barchester Dudwell St Mary Care Home for full pricing details and T&Cs.
Contact Barchester Dudwell St Mary Care Home 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
- Barchester Healthcare Ltd
- Private Owned
Person in charge
- Anthony Butler (Senior General Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services
Admission Information
- Mixed with both male-only and female-only unit(s)
- Ages 65+
Care Home Design/Build
- Purpose Built: Yes
- Last Refurbishment: 2022
- Number of floors: 3
Room Information
- Single Rooms (61)
- Couples/Companion Rooms (2)
- Single Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (43)
- Couples/Companion Rooms with ensuite Wet Room (2)
Visiting
- Dudwell St Mary is situated in the heart of 'Kipling' country with large extensive grounds that overlook the Dudwell river valley. Why not arrange a visit to see for yourself, guests are always welcome to visit and to join residents for lunch. The home is situated just one mile from Etchingham station
Parking
- Dudwell St Mary Care Home have own on site parking facilities.
Barchester Dudwell St Mary Care Home Reviews (126)
Barchester Dudwell St Mary Care Home has a Review Score of 9.7 (9.702) out of 10, based on 18 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Barchester Dudwell St Mary Care Home has 126 reviews.
I have always found this to be a lovely home in a peaceful and beautiful setting. The home itself is bright, clean and modern and the residents are well looked after by a happy, friendly and most importantly, caring team of staff.
Thank you so much for your lovely words. It's so nice to know that other professionals coming into the home finds the environment inviting and that is looked after when visiting the premises. Thank you again for the lovely review.
Great place where nothing appears to be too much trouble. The residents come first, and the staff could not be more accommodating. The location of the home is ideal, with beautiful views over a valley, and the grounds are perfect for the residents to walk and enjoy. There are activities daily, and each time I have been at the home, there has been a great atmosphere. Can't recommend the home enough.
Thank you so much for the very kind words in your review. It is gratifying that you have found our service so accomodating and that it meets the needs of the residents we care for. We take great pride in our home and the levels of care we provide, and reviews of this nature are the icing on the cake for the team.
My mum has advanced dementia and can no longer manage at home. She has been there for 2 months now and has good and bad days. Nowhere is perfect in my experience but the staff here are very caring, and I am very happy with the team and the environment. The staff are mostly consistent and therefore have got to know my mum's needs.
When small issues do arise, they do listen and try their best to put them right, and the care is very tailored to the individual.
I have had experience of other homes, and this is much better than any of the others I have tried. I am very happy with the care from the team at Barchester Dudwell St Mary Care Home
Dear Fiona, having spent some time with your mother following her admission to the home, I can wholeheartedly say she is a delight to know, and the team have well and truly taken her to their hearts. You are correct in your comment about tailoring care to the individual as one size does not fit...
Very nice room. Hardworking staff. Friendly. Will explore garden soon.
I am sure that every member of the team will support my sentiment when I write that it is a pleasure to have you in the home. We shall endeavour to assist you into the garden, especially now that summer has arrived so that you can enjoy our lovely grounds. Thank you so much for your kind words to the team.
Friendly staff.
Enjoy company and living in home.
The pleasure of looking after you is ours and we take a great deal of comfort in knowing that you are happy living with us. It is important to get the right balance of environment for each resident and knowing that we have got it right for you is so gratifying.
Room, good views.
Staff are nice.
Thank you for your feedback, to know that you are happy an contented gives us, the team enormous pleasure. It is a gift to know that we are succeeding in our purpose to provide you with a home, care, love and a community to be part of.
I arrived at Barchester Dudwell St Mary's following severe sepsis and have been nursed and cared for extremely well. The nursing and caring staff work as a good team, which makes for a happy and relaxed atmosphere.
We are so happy that we were able to care for you so well during a time of need and that you feel that the atmosphere in the home is happy and relaxed. This is testament to the ethos that we promote at the home, ensuring that you are at the centre of all we do and that the team cares not only for the residents but each other as well.
All our dealings with the home have been very professional and informative. Our Aunt appears to be very happy here.
Thank you very much for your very kind review. It is gratifying to know that your aunt is happy and contented living at the home. We endeavour to provide the best possible environment for our residents and make this a warm and nurturing place to live. Rest assured your aunt is as precious to us and she is to you and your family.
Due to lockdown much of what goes on is not experienced. My sister has been a resident for two months only. However, what I have experienced is very good and I have no complaint. The only point to raise would be the activities to entertain residents? perhaps unable due to the current pandemic restrictions.
Thank you so much for your review. We will take all comments on board. Our activities coordinators work really hard to entertain our residents. Due to restrictions some have had to happen in smaller groups and may not always be visible on your visit. We will speak to your sister and see if she has anything specific in mind she would like to join in with.
My friend has settled well and the care team have been very responsive to her needs and any challenges presented since admission. I have been kept fully informed regarding her health and care needs and any issues of concern. My queries are followed up promptly. The care team, deputy manager and office team are friendly and welcoming whether by telephone or face to face. The activities team have worked extremely hard.
The team at Dudwell St Mary work very hard to ensure that residents and their families/friends are fully catered for and knowing that we have succeeded is very gratifying.
Rest assured that we are always striving to enhance and improve the experiences in the home and take feedback very seriously.
Originally I came to be with my sister who had been a patient in Kings College Hospital. As we needed the house to be underpinned, I came to join my sister due to this and the Covid pandemic. I have been in two different houses and usually despite staff shortages at times I am pleased with my life under this roof.
It is so important that we receive feedback from our residents as they are the centre of everything we do.
To make you comfortable, safe and a valued member of our community is our overarching responsibility...
Throughout her stay, she has received excellent care and support, particularly in these difficult times all very much appreciated. Staff continuity has been good.
Thank you for your valued feedback. All support from our family members is very much appreciated by all our staff.
Superb care, especially during the Covid pandemic whereby early closure of doors to visitors has proved to be an extremely good decision as to my knowledge, there have been no cases at Dudwell. Very helpful staff who are friendly and always happy to answer my questions.
Thank you for your lovely feedback. We understand how difficult these circumstances have been in making arrangements to visit your aunt safely, we are pleased that the measures we put in place here at Dudwell, especially during the summer with our outdoor visiting area, enabled our residents to...
Mum went into Dudwell for respite first. We are extremely impressed with the caring staff and how Mum has progressed from not eating and drinking to now seems settled, eating well and happy as can be after leaving her home of 74 years. The garden view is fantastic which hopefully she will be able to enjoy next year. A big thank you to all the staff in these hard times and also for the garden visits.
Thank you very much for your kind feedback. We still remember the early days of when Mum moved to Dudwell, and requiring special support with this very difficult transition from home, particularly in light of the length of time she had lived at her home. We were so pleased that she managed to make...
Under what a difficult year, the service has been excellent. Visits in the garden have been excellent in their organising. My only question was could a pod not have been organised early for colder or wet days. Anytime I have rung with worries or general questions, the staff have always been so very, very helpful. I thank them all.
Thank you for your kind words. We agree that this year has been a difficult journey for everyone. We are pleased to hear that your garden visits were successful and enjoyed by those who participated. With regards to the POD, Barchester has over 200 homes in which they had to schedule the fitting of PODS and we just happened, unluckily, to be more later than others to complete.
During the unfortunate virus time of 2020, we have been kept well informed with guidance and safety to my sister. Care wise, business has been excellent.
Thank you very much, Charles, for your kind words. We are very touched that over the years you have always been a very staunch supporter of Dudwell. Our aim at Dudwell is to provide high standards of care with regularly trained staff who work towards understanding the individual needs and preferences of our residents and this subsequently creates great relationships between us all.
All our thanks to all staff at Dudwell St Mary.
Thank you, C B, communication is vital, especially when visiting has been severely affected this year during the pandemic. I am pleased to know that staff have kept you up to date and facilitated contact for you and your husband as much as possible.
Dudwell St Mary has certainly cared for my mother brilliantly over the last 6 months. She has settled into their routines and has accepted being 'looked after' by all members of staff. A very caring community.
Thank you so much, H A, it has been a pleasure to support and provide care for your mum. We all have a good relationship and she seems very happy in her new environment. She has made friends and this has been forefront in settling in so well.
Most of the care has been well thought out and one or two of the staff have been extra helpful on my wobbly moments. My room has a lovely view over the valley but there is no way I can wash my feet!
Thank you for making a difficult time bearable. My mother sadly passed away the first week in October, the manager and staff whilst taking every precaution with regard to Covid-19 still enabled me to be with mum in her last hours and to support my father who shared a room with her. They allowed me to break the news of her death to my dad and to be there in his grief. On the day of her funeral, they were understanding and helpful and there when he returned with compassion and reassurance. Thank you.
Regulatory Rating
Care Quality Commission (CQC) Rating
Date: 28 September 2018Good
- 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 (26) & Events (1)
- 17 Jul 2026
Our Employee of the month for June is … our amazing Chef Jon Jon received many nominations from staff, residents and relatives Jon received so many heart warming comments about...
- 17 Jul 2026
We were delighted to be supporting our amazing Managing directors Michelle and Duncan in raising money for our Barchester charitable foundation Michelle and Duncan where involved in the Cook off,...
- 17 Jul 2026
We had the pleasure in welcoming Zoie for her weeks work experience at Dudwell St Marys Zoie is currently studying at Bexhill academy, Zoie had really lovely feedback about her...
- 07 Sep 2026Organiser: Barchester Dudwell St Mary Care Home
Awards / Recognitions (60)
- 11 Aug 2026Recipient: Barchester Dudwell St Mary Care Home
- 09 Jun 2026Recipient: Barchester Healthcare Ltd
- 09 Jun 2026Recipient: Barchester Healthcare Ltd
Accreditations
There are no accreditations posted yet for Barchester Dudwell St Mary Care Home.
Meet the Team (11)

Hi. My name is Anthony Butler, and I am the General Manager at Dudwell St Mary.
I have been working for Barchester Healthcare since 2011. I started my journey as a Carer at Dudwell St Mary's all those years ago. I progressed to become a South Operational Trainer for the Company, and in the following years, I completed my Level 5 management training.
In 2024, I was promoted as the new General Manager at our sister home, Lydfords, and now it is wonderful to do a full circle, and I am back here within the Dudwell family as the now current GM.
I am dedicated to supporting our staff to deliver excellent person-centred care to all our residents and families.

When people ask me what I do, I often smile before answering.
Yes, my job title is Clinical Deputy General Manager, but what I really do is help people — residents, families, and colleagues — navigate some of the most important moments in their lives.
I started my career as a nurse at the National Health Service for 15 years, driven by a passion for patient care and a belief that healthcare should be as much about kindness as it is about clinical excellence. Over the years, my desire to work with elderly people I realised that leadership roles gave me the chance to influence not just one resident’s journey, but the systems and teams that care for hundreds every day.
Becoming a Clinical Deputy General Manager was a natural step — it allowed me to combine my clinical expertise with strategic leadership, ensuring that our services are safe, effective, and truly patient-centred.
The role can be demanding, balancing operational pressures with the need to maintain high-quality, compassionate care is not easy, but the rewards are immense, seeing the resident journey, being supportive, watching a team member grow in confidence, or implementing a change that improves safety for everyone.
Healthcare is evolving rapidly, and so is the role of a Clinical Deputy General Manager. From digital transformation to new models of care, there’s never been a more exciting — or important — time to lead.
For me, it’s not just a job. It’s a privilege to be part of a team at Barchester that makes a real difference every single day and also providing a premium caring experience, which is delivered by our team to those we care for.

I have worked at Dudwell St Mary for 20 years in my role as Administrator, and in that time I have seen Dudwell change and grow.
My role involves working with both staff and residents and is very busy and varied, but I really enjoy being in the Reception, meeting and greeting both Residents and their families. I enjoy my job very much, and I am lucky to work with a really good bunch of people.
I work part-time, which enables me to spend time with my lovely family and indulge in my love of horses and dogs and anything to do with the great outdoors.

Hi, my name is Caroline, and I joined the team here at Dudwell in February 2011. My role as Administrator involves managing payroll, accounts and HR, in addition to the financial and business systems in the home, working closely with the General Manager.
I enjoy meeting residents, old and new, along with their loved ones, and building these relationships.
I am supported by two members of the admin team to ensure that we deliver a high standard of work.

Soraia is our wonderful Unit Manager Nurse for our St Mary's nursing unit. Soraia has been with Dudwell for approx. 10 years now, and is a well-respected member of our team. She does a fantastic job with the staff rota, care planning and is a great support role/mentor to our RGNs. Soraia is passionate about all aspects of elderly nursing care, and we are grateful to have her working with our team as she brings compassionate care to the forefront.

My name is Jamie Butler, and I am a Care Practitioner here at Dudwell St Mary's with nearly 15 years of dedicated service. I began my career as a Care Assistant, progressing through the roles of senior carer and care practitioner, and I am currently undertaking training to become an Advanced Care Practitioner. My passion for providing high-quality, person-centred care and my commitment to continuous learning have been at the heart of my career journey.
I take great pride in supporting residents and their families, building meaningful relationships, and helping to create a caring and compassionate environment.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my lovely husband and our four beautiful children, who keep me busy and make my days off truly special.

My name is Augustine, and I am a Senior Care Assistant and Speak Up Champion at Dudwell St Mary.
I have been working in the care industry for 3 years. I absolutely love my role, and I find fulfilment in caring for and assisting the residents.
Since working at Dudwell St Mary, I have received a great amount of training and support. As a Speak Up Champion, I can support residents and colleagues to speak up on areas of concern and need for improvement within Dudwell St Mary.

My Name is Linda, and I am one of the Activities Co-ordinators at Dudwell St. Mary care home.
I joined Dudwell St Mary in April 2008 as a Housekeeping Assistant and later became the Head of Housekeeping. In 2018, I became an activities coordinator, where I brought lots of new and exciting ideas to the role.
I am passionate about my role within the home and aim to bring a smile to all our residents’ faces through different types of activities. My personality is bright and bubbly, so I aim to share this each day at work.
As I gather the resident's likes and dislikes, if you would like to come and chat with me about your family member, please contact the home to arrange.

Hello, my name is David, I am the Head of Maintenance at Dudwell St Mary. This role is varied and challenging to keep the home environment to the highest standard possible and to ensure that both residents and staff can enjoy their surroundings safely. I started this role in July 2020 after working as the maintenance manager of a holiday park for six years. When I was made redundant, I decided to pursue a more rewarding career in the care home sector, and I am very happy I did! Previously to this, I have been self-employed as a handyman, and I am a fully qualified electrician.

Hi, my name is Nicky, and my role at Dudwell St Mary is Admin Assistant. I have worked for Barchester for 3 years and enjoy every day here. When I’m not at work, I’m a mum to a teenager and enjoy family time. I’m a big animal lover, and I also have dogs and cats in my family. Next year I’m getting married, so that is taking up a lot of my spare time with planning.

Hi, I have worked for Barchester and Dudwell St Mary since 2018. I started as a Housekeeper and am now Head of Housekeeping. My role includes keeping the home safe and clean for everyone. I really enjoy my role as every day is different. I take time to get to know the residents and also their lives before they lived with us. I worked as a carer in the community for 13 years, so I understand all elements of the role.
Information on this page is displayed without responsibility for its accuracy on the part of carehome.co.uk. Please contact Barchester Dudwell St Mary Care Home to verify any information. View our terms and conditions. Barchester Dudwell St Mary Care Home has an Enhanced Service -more info.