New dementia home at Barrowhill Hall opened by TV's Charles Hanson

TV antiques expert, Charles Hanson, was the special guest at the official opening of Barrowhill Hall's new care household in Rocester.

Churnet Lodge is a new residential home in the grounds of Barrowhill Hall, an award-winning care and nursing home overlooking the Churnet Valley on the Staffordshire/Derbyshire border.

The Lodge offers a high quality homely environment for up to 24 people with dementia. It has a spa, a country-style kitchen for residents to use, a selection of lounges, wifi and Netflix/Amazon in every room, plus special features that make life easier for people with memory problems.

Charles Hanson, the star of BBC TV programmes such as ‘Flog It’ and ‘Bargain Hunt’ led the celebrations with a speech to the 55 guests and an antiques valuation day in the main lounge.

“You’d be very lucky to come to a place like Churnet Lodge which is built on a pedigree and provenance as to what it has to offer,” said Charles.

“The surroundings are beautiful and very peaceful. It’s been a fantastic day, I’ve been given good old Staffordshire hospitality, the team here are wonderful and I’ve really enjoyed meeting residents and their families.”

It was attended by the Mayor of Uttoxeter, Cllr Alan Noyes, his counterpart from Ashbourne, Cllr Caroline Cooper, as well as families, local people and interested professionals.

Churnet Lodge has been open since August and currently has 10 residents. Among them is 92 year old Velma Blythe from Cheadle whose son, Carlton, was at the event:

“They are first class here,” he said. “My mother smiles all the time, the lights are on in her eyes. She and my father had a farm in Cheadle and she really enjoys being able to see the cows in the field outside.

“Being with people who are at a similar stage in their dementia has made a tremendous difference to her. They treat her in an absolutely superb fashion.”

Many of the guests brought along antiques to be valued by Charles Hanson. The star item on the day was a silver cigar box brought along by Gina Harris from U3A in Ashbourne.

“It was given to my great uncle when he went to Russia to help set up a cotton mill,” said Gina.

“I haven’t cleaned it for ages and Charles was shocked at just how dirty it was. I had no idea if it was valuable.”

The auctioneer from Etwall, Derbyshire, valued it at between £800 and £1,000.

The manager of Barrowhill Hall and Churnet Lodge, Martin Rogerson, said:

“We’re delighted Charles could officially open our new building. We’re very proud of Churnet Lodge and we’ve taken a great deal of care in making it a comfortable and homely place to live.

“The reaction from our guests today has been so positive. People told me they think it’s fantastic and were impressed by how light and airy it is.

"Our catering team have really shown the quality of the food they make and I must thank them and all the staff.”

The Lodge was recently one of five finalists in the ‘Best Interior Design’ category of the National Dementia Care Awards.

click here for more details or to contact Barrowhill Hall Residential and Nursing Home