Cranleigh is a leading co-educational boarding and day school set in a stunning rural location in more than 280 acres on the edge of the Surrey Hills. On September 29th 1865 the School opened its doors to pupils for the first time, under Headmaster Joseph Merriman, with just 12 boys.

Cranleigh, now a thriving community of more than 600 boys and girls, has come a long way since its establishment as a school to support the local farming community. The Chapel, finished in 1869, remains the beating heart of the community, but today our beautiful campus is exceptionally well equipped, with outstanding classroom, studio, performance and sports facilities, as well as the original buildings and farmland.

The Cranleigh family has extended to include Cranleigh Preparatory School, itself over 100 years old, our sponsored partner school in Kitwe and our sister school in the Emirates. Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, situated at the heart of Saadiyat Island, the Emirates’ island of culture, opened its doors to the first pupils at the Junior School in 2014 and the Senior School opens in 2015. Like the other Schools in the Cranleigh family, Cranleigh Abu Dhabi shares the motto Ex Cultu Robur (from Culture comes Strength), an ethos which celebrates co-curricular success alongside academic excellence with remarkable results for every pupil, year on year.

Ex Cultu Robur has been embedded in Cranleigh’s ethos since 1865, enabling young people to flourish in a busy environment and develop the personal skills and qualities that will enhance their adult lives. Above all, it seeks to fulfil the aims of its founders in encouraging Cranleighans to look beyond themselves to make a difference to the society in which they live and work. Old Cranleighans – our celebrated academics, politicians and business leaders, our national standard athletes, our musicians, artists and actors – are testament to its success.

This microsite is dedicated to the remarkable history of Cranleigh and its community, through an exploration of historical objects, key events and the most notable Old Cranleighans of the past; a celebrated heritage on which we build our future.