Work on the Cottage Has Started

November 2025, by Trevor Dale

Work on the cottage has indeed started. By the time this article is published we hope to have scaffolding erected and a temporary roof in place.

The decision has been taken to strip the roof, very carefully, and ensure it is watertight and insulated for the coming years. Great care will be taken to save as many tiles as possible, though many are inevitably fragile and will need replacement. We will use salvaged ones for the visible parts of the roof. Currently there is very little felt under the tiles and no insulation. This will all be put right. At least heating the cottage will become somewhat affordable as a result. Currently it is absolutely freezing in winter, with all the accompanying damp damage from the last few years of neglect.

Cranleigh Heritage Trust is very grateful to the band of volunteers who cleared the worthwhile plants from the front garden. The valuable specimens are being cared for in my garden, the shrubbery disposed of, and the plan for the future is to reinstate a display of medicinal plants next Summer.

Internally everything with any heritage value is being stored but the parquet flooring has gone. It dated from the 1920’s and we were assured it had no heritage value.

Many of the external fascia boards have been removed and the original structural timbers are visible – by the car park. They don’t look too bad for over 575 years old to my untrained eye!

All the inappropriate sand and cement flaunching round the base of the walls will come off soon. That has trapped moisture which has permeated into the cottage.

We had the benefit of a survey of the windows and doors performed by local architectural historian Charles Brooking. Charles’ intricate knowledge of windows, doors and fittings is justifiably World-renowned. He has identified many of the features such as the frames to the dormer windows dating to the 1680’s. though many of the leaded light windows were from Guildford Glass and Metal Works in the 1920’s. Other windows, such as in the Victorian porch, were made by a local blacksmith to an older design. The porch will be reopened as part of the works.

Many of the fittings internally and externally are typical of Warren Builders, who constructed so many buildings in and around Cranleigh in the 1920’s. It is clear that much work was performed to keep the cottage usable and safe even after the extensions of 1901 were added. Sadly that mostly ceased once the cottage was no longer in use from about 2007.

We will continue with further reports of the many additions and alterations to the cottage in later editions, when we have further expert analysis and detail to share.

In the meantime, please help grow our 1000 Club which is giving a £1000 prize in the Christmas draw. This also helps Cranleigh Arts Centre and the 1170 appeal for St Nicholas church. In 2026 it is likely we will revamp the prizes to offer even more chances for subscribers to win each month.

 

Further Support for the Project

Even as the refurbishment is in progress there will need to be a volunteer team behind the scenes. If you want to help research more about Doctor Napper, staff and hidden Victorian patients; or want to help in the new garden; or can assist with future guided tours; or good with a camera to help record building progress and volunteer workshops; or become involved with the new MyCranleigh website.
Get in touch email the team@cranleighheritagetrust.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.

Originally published in The Cranleigh Magazine