A knight to remember! – Care home TRANSFORMED into a Medieval castle for local community

Residents at a Kent care home have been dining like kings and queens – quite literally – after their home was transformed into a medieval village. 

Those living at Care UK’s Montfort Manor in Ashford, Kent, received the royal treatment when they woke up to find their home had been transformed into a medieval residency from the Middle Ages. 

For one day only, residents found their address had changed from Montfort Manor to Montfort Castle. 

The incredible surprise came as the home geared up to celebrate its annual summer party, where residents are joined by their relatives and the local community for a midsummer party to celebrate life at the care home.  

After being told in the morning to ‘dress in Medieval costumes’ lent to the home by the Canterbury Medieval Pageant for a special surprise, residents were greeted by team members dressed in medieval robes, before being led outside to the home’s garden where a working Medieval village was being re-enacted by local theatre group, Re-Shake.

Keen for residents to experience a true taste of medieval life and how the lower classes lived too, residents enjoyed a spinning wool class to try their hand at making traditional medieval clothing.

The Mayor of Ashford, Councillor Larry Krause, also joined in the fun as he took to the medieval stocks.  

To end the day, guests enjoyed a banquet in the home’s dining room, which had been adorned with a suit of armour, and lavish medieval decorations. Prepared by the home’s impressive kitchen team, the banquet included a parsley bread, salmon and fruit tart, roast pork with spiced wine, as well a delicious plum and carrot tart. 

86-year-old resident, Audrey, said: “The medieval day was brilliant. It was such an amazing effort that the team and residents went to, everyone is very talented, and I enjoyed it very much!”

Joanne Eaton, Home Manager at Montfort Manor, added: “We had such a wonderful time welcoming the Ashford community to Montfort Castle and transporting everyone back to the Medieval period. 

“Here at Montfort Manor, we base our activities and special events on residents likes and interests and are always looking for new and exciting ways to support residents to lead fulfilling lives with activities that you wouldn’t expect at a care home. We have many historians living here and knew how keen they would be to celebrate our annual summer party with a theme from days gone by. 

“Nobody could believe it, especially when they saw us all dressed up in full Medieval attire. We had so much fun, and we’re already planning our next big surprise for residents to enjoy. This was certainly a memorable day and one which we will remember for many years to come.” 

Montfort Manor is a purpose-built care home which has been designed to enable residents to live active and fulfilled lives, while also promoting independence. The home provides full-time residential, nursing and specialist dementia care for older people in Ashford, as well as short-term respite care.