by Trevor Dale
By the time this article is published and if progress continues at the same pace, the scaffolding should be removed – Mid-March is the planned date. By early February the master craftsmen repairing the aged timber, have spliced in fresh oak and made the cottage weatherproof to a degree it has never experienced before. You can almost feel the sighs of relief from the beams. It has required over 320 man hours of work on those alone.
We enjoyed a visit from the National Lottery Heritage Fund representative who professed he was seriously impressed by the state of the cottage and the work accomplished by the team. They do keep a very close eye on their investment. All you lottery ticket buyers will be pleased – keep it up!
All this stripping and checking has revealed the truth behind a contentious item. We reported a few months back that the cottage may have been built as a remote kitchen because no evidence could be found for doors front and rear. Furthermore, for it to be a kitchen, there must have been a significant house close by to warrant it. But no record of such a dwelling exists in all the archives. But now the original front door has come to light in the corner nearest the car park.
The mortises for the frame were visible, though of necessity now filled with new oak. There will have to be some modification to accommodate disabled access. This isn’t something that was originally envisaged back in 1446, but we’re doing our utmost to accommodate all requirements. The first floor access may be too much of a challenge though.
Also slots for medieval window shutters have appeared upstairs when modern shelving was removed.
So the survey report is being revised and the excellent conjectural drawing by the late Richard Greening is indeed accurate, much to the delight of Cranleigh History Society! Next month we will reveal the amended report.
Many of the roof tiles will need replacing and local sources are being investigated, as is appropriate. We have endeavoured to use nearby resources as much as possible and the leaded light windows are in the very capable hands of a Horsham based company.
Cranleigh Men’s Shed’s excellent volunteers are constructing a replica of Dr Napper’s Victorian era operating table, complete with receptacle for catching the blood. More on that to follow, but we’re looking for volunteers to try out the role of patient. (Not really!)
FURTHER SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT
Several fresh volunteers have joined the Cranleigh Heritage Trust team, helping plan the future uses and develop our plan to benefit as much of the community as possible. We are actively seeking new members to join the team now that we have a live project. If you believe you have skills and time to use them that would be helpful to a heritage project, please get in touch.
To get in touch email the is: team@cranleighheritage trust.org.uk.
To register an expression of interest in future use of the facilities please write to us with the following information:
1. Brief description of what you offer and the benefits to clients and customers.
2. Say if and where you currently offer this service and why people would use the cottage to meet you.
3. Brief declaration of support for the project in general.
4. Return name and address and any website or social media links.
Thank you so much!
Trustees Trevor Dale – Chair; Howard Barratt; Jane Briggs; Chris Bulley; Sue Dale; Nigel West. Advisors Bob Callard – architect; Joanna James – business advisor, Michael Miller and Joy Horn, history advisors.
Visit our website: www.cranleighheritagetrust.org.uk
