The Napper Centre is on target for completion before September. I have just been in the cottage and the fitting out is progressing fast. So much of the detail will be invisible to the casual visitor, but the intricate detail of what lies beneath is vast.
By Trevor Dale, Chair, Cranleigh Heritage Trust
What lies beneath
The heating elements are being plastered into the walls and ceilings. These are wafer-thin sheets of graphene that convert low voltage and low energy power into infra-red heat — a first for an aged building in this country. No ugly radiators, no heat pumps, so no visible clutter to contaminate the beauty of the original. All the plaster is lime based, as it would have been, to enable this ancient building to breathe as intended.
Also unseen will be the AV kit and the hearing loop, as well as the system that will effectively bring Dr Napper and his team back to apparent life as part of the heritage display. Our continued interactions with local schools are yielding some inspirational ideas that will involve all ages.
The container that housed the site office and storage has been removed, and the drainage and water supply are being sorted. A metal detectorist had a great discovery — a slot machine token from the 1970s — and I’m afraid that was it!
Opening for National Heritage week
Plans for the opening around National Heritage week are progressing well — please put Saturday 12th September in your diaries. We will update in more detail when plans are confirmed. We are hoping to team up with Cranleigh Arts to bring exciting new interpretive arts-based experiences to Cranleigh.
A facility for the whole community
We have advertised for an administrator, which is a paid role, and have been inundated with excellent applications. These will be taken through a recruitment process within the next few weeks.
We have our first clients signed up to rent the rooms, and efforts are being made to find fresh users and not compete with other local offers. We have always seen this wonderful facility as suitable to welcome services which are not currently available in Cranleigh, or even nearby. Our efforts are very much in that direction. We have no wish to damage any other facility.
Please tell us what you, your friends and family need that is currently not available locally. We will do our utmost to supply services within our limited powers. But discovering what is missing is not easy.
Far too many of us, of all ages, need help which is currently only offered at other sites that can involve some challenging travel. The wonderful Hospital Hoppa services, funded by Cranleigh Lions Club, Waverley Borough Council and Surrey County Council amongst others, take patients to healthcare services in the surrounding area — but what do we need here?
Tell us what you need
Please get in touch: [email protected]
To register an expression of interest in future use of the facilities, please write to us with the following information:
- Brief description of what you offer and the benefits to clients and customers.
- Say if and where you currently offer this service and why people would use the cottage to meet you.
- Brief declaration of support for the project in general.
- Return name and address and any website or social media links.
Thank you so much!
This article first appeared in the July 2026 issue of Cranleigh Magazine. Pick up your free copy around the village, or read more at cranleighmagazine.co.uk.
