Care home
Freda Gunton Lodge Residential Home
Residential care home in Colchester, Essex
Freda Gunton Lodge Residential Home
Residential care home in Colchester, Essex
Operated by Balkerne Gardens Trust
What do these badges mean?
- Green Surroundings — Excellent access to parks, playing fields and other green space nearby (OpenStreetMap).
- Well Served — Excellent everyday amenities nearby — shops, supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, post offices, cafés and places to eat (OpenStreetMap).
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About
Freda Gunton Lodge Residential Home is a 40-bed residential care home in Colchester, Essex, providing care for older people aged 65 and over. The home is rated Good by the Care Quality Commission overall, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive care. Well-led was rated Requires Improvement in the 2020 inspection report.
What inspectors found
CQC: GoodReport published 11 February 2020 · Last inspected 6 December 2019
The report describes a residential home for older adults where staff knew people well and there were enough suitably trained staff to meet their physical and social needs. Inspectors noted that medicines were given when needed, the home was very clean, and people could choose their meals and when and where to eat them. Staff were described as valued and proud of their work, and the report notes that family members appreciated the support.
- Medicines were given when people needed them, by trained and competent staff
- The home was very clean, and staff had the equipment they needed to reduce infection risk
- Meals were enjoyed and offered in good variety, with flexible timing and choice of place
- Training was comprehensive, staff were supported towards professional qualifications, and end-of-life care was well established
- Some formal consents were missing for the use of monitoring equipment, although the provider acted immediately to put them in place
- The provider's monitoring tools did not always identify where action was needed
Written by AI from the report text and checked against it. Not an official CQC statement. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Read the full report on CQC.
Care provided
Specialist care
What's nearby
- Set back from main road noise
- Fire station about 900 m away
Straight-line distances. Road and rail noise from government strategic noise mapping (modelled, not measured). A&E departments from the NHS website. Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
What’s in the area
Outdoor Spaces
- AllotmentsPlentiful
- Play SpacePlentiful
- Golf CourseAdequate
- Public ParkAmple
- Tennis CourtPlentiful
- Bowling GreenAmple
- Playing FieldAdequate
Local Amenities
- Pubs & BarsPlentiful
- Restaurants & CafesPlentiful
- Retail ShoppingPlentiful
- SupermarketsPlentiful
- TakeawaysPlentiful
Local crime statistics
412 recorded crimes in the local area (April 2026)
Top categories:
Source: data.police.uk · within 1 mile
Fees and funding
| Care type | Weekly fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Residential care | Fees on request | — |
- Funding accepted
- Not stated
Fees depend on the room and the care needed, so ask the home for a written quote. Check who pays with the funding calculator, or see what Essex council pays.
Care fee trajectory
| Year | Council rate (per week) |
|---|---|
| 2024 | £807 |
| 2025 | £849 |
What Essex council pays care homes, and whether it will help with fees
Weighing up the options? Compare a care home with care at home, or check who pays with the means-test calculator.
Local health safety net
Freda Gunton Lodge Residential Home is backed by a local NHS health network. The nearest A&E is Colchester Hospital, 1.4 miles away. The local GP practice is BEACON HOUSE MINISTRIES, 0.2 miles away, rated ‘Good’ by the CQC.
Nearest services from NHS ODS + postcodes.io + CQC, by straight-line distance.
Community & connection in Colchester
Local clubs, charities and support groups that help older residents stay active and connected.
Age Concern Chelmsford
Day Centre and Luncheon Club operating for the benefit of the older residents of Chelmsford and the surrounding area.
Halstead Day Centre
The charity provides day care (including transport,bathing, a shopping service, advocacy and recreational activities) for people over 60 and who are isolated for whatever reason living in a radius…
Stock Over 60's Club
Provides recreational facilities for elderly people
Cressing Temple Community Shed
The purpose is to share skills and experiences, provide a haven to combat loneliness and isolation and to add value to communities. It is an opportunity to use your skills in wood working,…
Showing groups across Essex.
Part of Balkerne Gardens Trust
Freda Gunton Lodge Residential Home is one of 2 homes run by Balkerne Gardens Trust on AskBart. See how the group's homes are rated and where it operates.
More care homes near Colchester
Information last reviewed October 2026.
Reviews from families
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