
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 cannot praise all the staff at Dudwell St Mary Care Home enough. They are all exemplary and work to the highest standard. I appreciate their attention to detail, listening skills, policy of transparency, genuine kindness, cooperation, respect and level of hygiene, which is five star. The buildings smell fresh like a family home. It is set in wonderful and peaceful countryside.
I know mum is safe, secure, cared for and loved. I have peace of mind. Dudwell deserves the highest of awards. I never have to worry about mum’s safety or her physical, emotional and mental well-being. She is cared for with the utmost quality and dignity and is utterly respected.
Mum has a beautiful room with a beautiful view and she is very settled. I cannot recommend this care/nursing home highly enough. It is not just the hygiene that is five star, it is every aspect of Dudwell St Mary, from the setting, the buildings, the staff, the management and catering. If only all care/nursing homes were like Dudwell St Mary.
Thank you for taking time to complete a review of our home and the complimentary remarks and that you have found the staff to be exemplary and work to the highest standard. I am delighted that you feel your mother is safe, secure, cared for and love. I have shared your comments with my team and we...
Staff are always kind, helpful and efficient. Rooms are large, comfortable and well lit. Residents are well looked after and fed. The staff do a sometimes difficult job with patience and kindness.
Thank you for your comments about our home and I am pleased that you have found to be helpful and efficient and that residents are well looked after and fed. Over the years, we have been fortunate that our staff retention is good and we have a dedicated team of staff that will go an extra mile to ensure your aunt is well looked after.
We find Dudwell St.Mary very caring and excellent nursing home. However, at times we find the use of agency staff who, although caring, are not always familiar with the particular routine of individual residents.
I would like to reassure you that we have maximised our recruitment and we have progressed in the recruitment. We have also discussed with our agency suppliers to send staff who have worked at the home before to ensure continuity and this is taking place now except under extreme emergency.
We met several members of the staff, all of whom were friendly and smiling, We were offered tea or coffee, which we accepted with pleasure. The public rooms are sensitively furnished with warm reds and browns and the temperature is kept at a comfortable level. Our daughter, who has been here about one month, seems to like the environment, food and staff. From what we have seen, we would say she is lucky to be a resident at Dudwell St Mary.
Thank you for your complimentary remarks about our home. I have shared your review of our home with my team and we look forward to seeing you when you visit your daughter.
We are very happy with our fathers care at Dodwell St Mary. The home is very clean and tidy and there has been investment in decoration. The food is good and so is the nursing care. My dad is on a dementia ward which is always challenging but the staff treat him with dignity and care. We are very pleased with the manager and staff.
I am delighted that you are happy with the care of your father. We are pleased that your father has settled very well in his new home and we thank you for the support and being part of our team to ensure your fathers stay is as comfortable as possible.
Our stay at the home has always been welcome by all the members of staff in all areas we go to. My father has enjoyed his time at the care home and is always happy to return back after he goes out, which he does regularly. The care home is always being re-decorated where and when needed and I look forward to seeing the rest of the complex completed.
My mother loves the home and receives excellent care, she has made many friends and tells me how happy she is.
Thanks for posting a review of our nursing Home. We are pleased that you have found the home to be lovely and every aspect of our service to be excellent.
Caring, clean and tidy. Good food and having a nice approach, which in my opinion is all one can ask for when this is happening in one's life.
Thank you for posting a review of our nursing home. We are delighted with the feedback that the staff are caring, and the home is clean and tidy. We are also pleased that you feel the home has nice approach and the food to be good.
I do like it here. The manager is lovely. The food is good, I can have as much as I like. There is lots of company.
Thank you for taking time to share your views about your living experience at our home. We are delighted that you have made friends and your complimentary remarks.
This care home is amazing, it was such a relief for my mother-in-law to be in such a great place and to know she is safe, happy and looked after.
Thank you for posting a review of our nursing home and we are pleased that your Mother in-law has settled very well and she is complimentary about the home.
My father was transferred here at short noticed due to the death of my stepmother. I have found all the staff very helpful and respectful.
Thank you for taking time to review our home and we are pleased that you have found the staff helpful and you are likely to recommend our home.
Lovely relaxed atmosphere. Respectful to residents, staff. Always friendly and helpful. Renovations to the building are being carried out sympathetically towards the residents with minimal disruption seen.
Thank you for posting a review of our nursing home. We are pleased to read that Dudwell St Mary has a lovely and relaxed atmosphere. Your comments about staff being respectful, friendly and helpful is much appreciated.
The nurses go out of their way to keep us informed in a reassuring and timely manner. The carers treat people with honour, dignity and respect.
Thank you for taking the time to share your views about the care and support that your mother is receiving. I am delighted that the staff keep you updated in a timely manner and that you have found this reassuring.
I have been at Barchester Dudwell St Mary Care Home since September and has settled in really well, although naturally, it took me time to get used to a change of environment. The staff have been excellent and caring and friendly. I would like to see more activities laid on during the day as we only have one per week on a Monday. Otherwise, all is fine.
Our activities are planned and shaped...
The accommodation was very comfortable. The food was pleasant and adequate. The activities were interesting especially the land girls.
The care my grandmother receives is second to none. All staff show respect and really care for my nan and staff are welcoming to relatives. Nothing is too much trouble for them. Nan is kept clean, tidy and happy. Her room is personalised to her. The staff are always close to hand for advice and help.
The entire team from manager to all care staff have consistently provided excellent care for my Grandmother over the past 2 1/2 years. The carers treated my Gran with compassion and dignity as well as great patience. The team appeared happy and stable creating a lovely homely atmosphere on memory lane. When my gran was dying all the carers were so kind, gentle and respectful. Out of the 4 homes my gran experienced, Barchester Dudwell St Mary was by far the best in every way!
My husband suffered 18 years of PD and diagnosed with myeloma in February 2016 and spent the last six months of his life at Dudwell St. Mary. Management - any issues I raised were resolved quickly and tactfully. Nursing - a very efficient team who delivered complex medication largely on time. Carers - never complained about what they were asked to do, however often. I felt all these highly professional people also became our friends. I was welcomed and invited to share a meal with my husband. End of Life - sensitive and caring. All personnel took the time to talk to my husband and me, whenever.
Exceptional. Conscientious. Impeccable. Safe. Trustworthy. 10/10
The needle in the haystack when it comes to finding the very best care home, with the very best care, the very best staff, and the very best manager.
Add to all of the above, and more in terms of praiseworthy, Dudwell is a haven of peace, calm and beauty.
My mum is here now and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Absolutely Outstanding.
My wife is being cared for in a very kind and loving way. She is treated as an individual. The staff take time to listen even when really busy. Response to call bells is prompt. Choice of food is always given. It is a happy and caring place. I spend six hours a day with my wife to have time to observe.
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.