Our Vision for the Future
- Save the Grade 2 listed building which has been empty since 2010 and maintain it for future generations
- Open the Old Hospital Cottage for all the community of Cranleigh to use
- Create a new meeting space on our High Street focusing on health, well-being and education
- There will be four rooms available for rental, which will generate an income to pay towards the running costs
- A digital archive will be launched alongside the project to capture the rich history of Cranleigh
- The history of the building and how it started the creation of the NHS will be featured in the Old Hospital Cottage
How will we fund the project?
Essential restoration work and careful modernisation require at least £800k, for which the Cranleigh Heritage Trust has won support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Route to Opening
2007
The NHS no longer uses the cottage as a rest space for staff working at Cranleigh Village Hospital. The building stands empty and in increasing disrepair.
2020
The NHS Properties division agrees to lease the Old Hospital Cottage to a community group.
2022
Cranleigh Heritage Trust is formed as a charity run by volunteers.
2023 – Initial backing is won
Cranleigh Heritage Trust wins support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to develop a thorough business and development plan.
2024 – Goal: Secure full funding
In August the final proposal was submitted to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The aim was to secure the full grant necessary to restore and modernise the cottage for a new role within the Cranleigh community.
2025
January 9th – The announcement is public that we have been successful with our application, we have been awarded over £780k from National Lottery Heritage Fund. In additional we have received match funding of approximately £100k .Work will begin in the summer of 2025 and the doors will open to the public mid 2026.