The Reigate Society, the civic society for Reigate, Redhill and Merstham, will host a talk on the town's Cranston Library, entitled “Reigate's Hidden Treasure,” in St Mark's Church Hall, Alma Road, Reigate, on Thursday, January 30.

Hilary Ely will be giving the talk at 8.15pm, recounting how the library was founded by Andrew Cranston, the headmaster of what later became Reigate Grammar School, and vicar of Reigate from 1697 to 1708. The library was housed in the room it still occupies today and was for 'the use and perusal of the freeholders, vicar and inhabitants' of Reigate. In 1708, Trustees were appointed, and Hilary Ely is chairman of the Trustees today.

Website: www.reigatesociety.org.uk