A VISION ACCOMPLISHED

It has long been part of Ray & Isabelle’s business plan to achieve level access to all areas. The installation of four new lifts was funded by a complicated building project involving six new state of the art rooms (en suite like all our rooms) and a spectacular Orangery.

As Castle Grove is a listed building, local stone and reclaimed slates were used in order to construct a new building in keeping with the original. The old building was re-roofed, repainted inside & outside, and the opportunity was taken to convert some older bathrooms into wet rooms.

The whole project took 16 months and was well worth the disruption in order to produce a building which complemented the beautiful Georgian original, without compromising 21st century standards. Little touches which enhanced the project include a fountain, a terrace and of course, acres of new carpet.

The official opening of the Orangery took place on Friday 28th March 2008. Here is how the event was reported in the Tiverton Gazette. Please see below for pictures.

"Residents and staff at Castle Grove Nursing Home in Bampton have been celebrating the completion of a million-pound refurbishment.

The 16-month project created six new rooms plus an attractive orangery, fountain and four extra lifts. Ray Kenny, who founded the home with wife Isabelle in 1984, sadly succumbed to leukaemia last July before the completion of the scheme.

But friends and family gathered on March 28 to see Tiverton and Honiton MP Angela Browning perform the official opening ceremony.

The ceremony was relayed to residents via a groundbreaking video link and was followed by a champagne and buffet lunch.

Rev John Stone blessed the building and speeches were made by Mrs Kenny and the couple's first bank manager, Robert Hodge."