In 1859, in Cranley (now Cranleigh) in Surrey, there lived a medical practitioner by the name of Mr Albert Napper. His concern about the lack of facilities for his sick patients was shared with the local Rector, the Rev. J H Sapte. One day, while these two gentlemen were talking about this very subject, a major accident occurred resulting the victim having to be carried into the nearest cottage where Mr Napper performed an amputation. He was assisted by the local policeman and a druggist who promptly fainted. The incident so moved the Rector that he immediately offered Mr Napper the use of a small cottage, rent free, to be used as a hospital.
