Cranleigh in Surrey

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119: 105 ( This is the longest Psalm, and with a prayer in one’s heart teaches a lot.)

Let us go first of all into the art centre where people are enjoying cups of tea and cake. We will then cross the road and experience the warmth of an inglenook fireplace. As we come out, a sign will catch our attention and keep it for a while before we leave this village to see the River Wey, which we saw at the start in the exhibition .

There is a vibrance of colour on the walls. The Meath Epilepsy charity and art venture Trust have an exhibition in a side hall of Cranleigh’s dedicated Art Centre.

Around the walls These are a few of the exhibits:

We will now join a large dog in a pub opposite the exhibition centre. An inglenook with a stash of games piled on the left and wood to feed the fire on the right and ofcourse the dog. Linger a while and get warm.

Now out in the cold again. To the left of the pub on a building is a notice.

CRANLEIGH VILLAGE HOSPITAL This part of the building was the first village hospital in England founded in the year 1859 by Mr Albert Napper Surgeon of Cranleigh.

A notice.

It was while researching this Village Hospital that I found out that the 1949 Cranleigh Women’s Institute scrapbook recorded this conversation between Dr Napper and Dr Willis:

Dr Napper: And please will you call on that woman in Ewhurst Road.

Dr Willis: Which woman?

Dr Napper: Oh you know! The Nightingale woman who’s married to a swallow. They live at Jay’s Corner, and the baby has thrush.

Dr Willis : What a lark!

Here is a shortened explanation.

Nightingale was a prominent Cranleigh family name, and this was Emily Nightingale 1859/60 -1931. She was married to Dennis Swallow, a potter who started the Bookhurst Pottery (later called Swallow Tiles). They had amongst other children 10 month old Ethe and the owner of their cottage was Henry Jay.

The hospital, since May 2006, no longer has beds for in- patients but still survives because of the local communities’ support through fundraising.

Let us now look at the river we saw depicted in the art exhibition. We will see it in Godalming.

The river Wey , flowing full from side to side with a flooded area cattered for with a wooden boardwalk. A well cared for parkland.

It is hard to walk past the ornamental grass that someone is cutting back a little, especially with its movement in a slight but chilly breeze. I took the video and only at home noticed how much the birds were singing. Next time, I will listen and then watch. Maybe I will identify them.

Thank you for being with us in Cranleigh. Google this village found in Surrey if you would like to see more of its streets and history.

Take care.

Sandy 🙂

PS

Focus on what lights a fire inside of you and use that passion to fill a white space. Don’t be afraid of the challenges, the missteps, and the setbacks along the way. What matters is that you keep going.

Kendra Scott