The Cranleigh Heritage Trust is close to completing one of the village’s most important restoration projects. Trust Chair Trevor Dale shares the latest news from the Napper Centre.
The team is so proud that the project is getting the finishing touches and that they are of the highest quality. Everyone who has had the privilege of seeing the standard of the workmanship is hugely impressed with the detail.
The project is still on track and this view of the front in mid-July shows how it is progressing. If you spot the missing tiles on the porch, it is to facilitate access to install the guttering, very shortly.
Internally, the secondary double glazing is about to be fitted, and the painting of the lime plasterwork with the requisite specialist paints looks fabulous. The fire and intruder alarm systems are being installed, as are the internet and A/V kit.
“This medieval cottage has undergone a huge transition, under the skin, to make it usable for the community for many years to come.”
This medieval cottage has undergone a huge transition, under the skin, to make it usable for the community for many years to come.
An apothecary’s garden
The front garden has been cleared, as you can see, and the paths and hard landscaping are in place, all carefully designed for ease of access. We are very grateful to Guildford Tipper Hire for the supply of topsoil and to Bushy Business for advice on the planting plan.
You may remember that Dr Napper, as well as being a skilled surgeon, was also qualified as an apothecary, and we plan to grow appropriate medicinal plants. We will have to choose carefully, as back in the 1860’s a number of substances were administered which would cause immense horror today, things such as mercury, arsenic, opium and cocaine.
See inside over Heritage Weekend
National Heritage Weekend is 12th to 13th September and we will be open to the public, with guided tours. Prepare to be impressed! The focus inside is on the 1860’s, when the cottage had just become the first cottage hospital in England, and the beauty of the restored structure will be on display.
To register an expression of interest in future use of the facilities, please write to us with the following information:
- A brief description of what you offer and the benefits to clients and customers.
- Whether and where you currently offer this service, and why people would use the cottage to meet you.
- A brief declaration of support for the project in general.
- Your name and address and any website or social media links.
Thank you so much, and please do get in touch: [email protected].
This article first appeared in the August 2026 issue of Cranleigh Magazine. Pick up your free copy around the village, or read more at cranleighmagazine.co.uk.
