Restoration for Cranleigh Cottage Hospital which ‘inspired the NHS’

Having taken off the entire roof, Dale observed that the “original timbers, which are over 500 years old, are still in pretty good condition”.

Alongside “preserving this unique piece of English heritage”, the National Lottery funding is being used to make the building usable for the community.

Dale said the trust was determined to do the job right.

“The way we’re looking at it is, ‘repair it once, repair it right’,” he said.

According to the trust, England’s first cottage hospital opened in 1859 and “revolutionised healthcare in pre-NHS England”.

It was established by Dr Albert Napper, whose descendants have travelled to Cranleigh from New Zealand to see how the repairs are going.