Restoration for hospital which 'inspired the NHS'

A grant worth hundreds of thousands of pounds has been awarded to help renovate a 15th Century building in Surrey which is claimed to have inspired the NHS.

Cranleigh Cottage Hospital, which was built in 1446, was the first cottage hospital in England, according to the trust which runs it.

The award of £780,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund is aimed to "return the historic building for use by the local community as a hub for health and wellbeing, alongside heritage education and use by community groups".

Trevor Dale, chairperson of Cranleigh Heritage Trust, said the funding marked "a new chapter in the history of this remarkable building".

The cottage opened as a hospital in 1859 and "revolutionised healthcare in pre-NHS England", according to the trust.

Patients were asked to pay only what they could afford, or a community fund covered the charge for those too poor to pay.

Mr Dale said: "It is considered the early inspiration for the NHS.

"We are excited to get started with the critical restoration works."

Since 2007 the Grade II listed building has been disused.

It is planned to reopen as a community venue focused on health with heritage displays and a digital archive.

Restoration work will begin in the spring 2025 with plans to open again in summer 2026.

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