Cranleigh Heritage Cottage Hospital project moves forwards

by admin | Sep 29, 2021 | Cranleigh, Cranleigh Hospital, Health

Please help us by telling us you support the project to take over the

Cranleigh Heritage Cottage Hospital for Cranleigh’s community –

Cranleigh Village Hospital is providing day services and the League of Friends is hoping to bring more services to the empty rooms.  In addition to these areas the very old cottage at the front of all the buildings, beside the The Three Horseshoes pub, was part of the hospital continuously from 1859 to about 10 years ago!

you can read this article in a word document and complete our questionnaire by clicking here

The community have an opportunity to save  this GRADE II listed 15th Century Cottage Hospital Building – it’s on our High Street and we could repair it and use it for our Community’s benefit.  This project does not include the Victorian and 20^th Century extensions, which are in current use providing day services.  it has not been used by the NHS for the last 10 years and its not viable for clinical modern uses.  Therefore the NHS no longer require it and  will lease it to a charitable organisation for a peppercorn rent.

Why?

 ‘The original Cranleigh Cottage Hospital building is of national and local historic interest, and as such should be preserved for community use where its architectural elements can be fully appreciated.  It is also one of the most important buildings in the village and deserves a central role in the local community, at present standing empty and disused.  I fully support this initiative to secure its long-term future.’ Charles Brooking http://www.cbah.uk/

• ‘This building displays many of the features present when it was originally built using methods practised at the time.  It is unusual in Surrey in that it remains largely intact and where modifications have been made these are visible and contribute to the history of the building over the centuries.  As such it would provide an excellent learning centre for those interested in the development of building techniques over the centuries.  It is structurally sound and having stood for over 500 years there is no reason to doubt that given routine maintenance it should survive for another similar period.’ Michael Miller – leader of Cranleigh History Society and local medieval historian and writer.
• ‘We know from dendrochronological analysis that the cottage was built around AD 1446.  We do not who the original owners were but they were clearly of some status in the community.’ * Moir,A.K. 2008 Dendrochronological analysis of oak timbers from Cranleigh Village Hospital. Tree-Ring Services Report CVLh/11/08.

The cottage is one of Cranleigh’s oldest buildings, dating back to 1446 and was later owned by St Nicolas church.  In 1859 the Reverend Sapte agreed to donate the cottage to the village and Dr Napper and it became a cottage hospital for Cranleigh. Villagers could pay for their treatment if they could afford it, but a fund was set up for less fortunate people to pay for their treatment. In those days people who couldn’t pay their bills would become paupers, which was as bad as being a criminal. In the first year over 30 people were patients. Dr Napper travelled the country and a Cottage Hospital movement began and grew.

The Royal College of Surgeons declared it a great model for patients and doctors alike,  and it is recognised as the first cottage hospital of its type in England. Cranleigh (known as Cranley in those days) cottage hospital was successful and continued to serve the community with their fund raised money for buildings as well as equipment, continuously until recently. It is arguably the true foundation of the NHS. In 1948 it was transferred into the new NHS and was part of Cranleigh Village Hospital until 10 years ago.  People who worked there remember it fondly as it was used for meetings and a tea room.

What could it be used for? 

The cottage has a small set of rooms, both upstairs and down, and can accommodate the following ideas: A meeting room for up to 24 people; Health and Wellbeing Services; Exciting Museum style displays of local artefacts and information to include the history of the hospital, Cranleigh and areas nearby;  Information point for the Community;  Educational visits by local schools;  There is an area that would be just right for a repair shop for the community

Where is the money coming from? 

The NHS will not put any more money into repairing the building. We are looking to raise the finance for the project from local charitable grants. One grant that we are currently applying for supports the preservation of historically buildings where they are on High streets and able to help revitalise the village. The building requires careful conservation, opening up and making safe, and that will cost at least £200,000.

What has been achieved so far?

NHS Property Services have agreed that the building is a problem for them, have done a few essential repairs and undertaken a condition survey. They are keen to provide Cranleigh community with a long lease at a peppercorn rent so that the building can be conserved and used.  They are especially keen that the uses include health and wellbeing uses. They say the lease will include a clause stating that it only has to be returned to them in the condition we find it in!

How can you support the project?

For us to move to the next stage  WE NEED EXPRESSIONS OF SUPPORT please, because we must show Grant making bodies that our community wants the work done, and will benefit from the outcomes.

Why does it need to be taken on by our community?

The property is falling into disrepair and the NHS is not able to spend money on it.  It is a national treasure. Being on the High Street and attractive it would form a new, vibrant place to visit and for wonderful and special events and displays to take place. Volunteers would oversee its uses. It would be served by a website to match those of other towns with well organised information for tourists, new people to Cranleigh and locals alike. People have always said it should be a museum and there are other exciting uses we can imagine to compliment that part of its new life going forwards.

How can you support the project?

We would like to hear from you about your views on the project.

Please have a look at our questions below and  email or write to:  Secretary Civic Society 42 Horsham Road GU6 8DU or info@cranleighsociety.org : –

Do you believe that the community should take the cottage over, and save it for community benefits? Yes / No, Comments

Potential uses for the building

Meeting Room for up to 24 people for the Community to hire out to help with overheads (we intend to provide kitchenette and toilets) – Yes / No   Comments:

Repair Shop managed by volunteers for the community to recycle equipment – Yes / No   Comments:

Display of Cranleigh’s history including celebrating the first Cottage Hospital in England – storyboards, digital displays, artefacts and medical tools – Yes / No   Comments:

Cranleigh Information hub promoting local facilities, events, local clubs and organisations. – Yes / No   Comments:

Educational visits to include the history of Cranleigh and surrounding villages, and of medicine and Cranleigh, – Yes / No   Comments:

HOW COULD YOU HELP WITH THE PROJECT?

Specialist skills to support this project – Yes / No   Comments:

We believe the project will help to keep Cranleigh a special place and provide a great place on the High Street.  Do you support the project for Cranleigh and surrounding villages? Yes / No   Comments:

Please contact the Civic Society info@cranleighsociety.org

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Cranleigh Civic Society secretary Sue Dale – suemdale@gmail.com

thank you so very much!