Citywire publication New Model Adviser have produced a feature in the magazine this week listing the top ten adviser head offices.
Sundial House, the head office for Informed Choice in Cranleigh, has been listed in the top ten.
Described in the feature as a ‘mock tudor mansion’, a rather generous description of our converted house, they go on to describe how Informed Choice has had more success in the building than the previous occupants.
Sundial House was built in the late 1920’s as a private house with a gift shop. The original owner, Mrs Smallridge, and her daughter Gwen already had a gift shop in the High Street which was so successful they decided to build Sundial House.
Unfortunately, they opened the shop at Sundial House at the start of the great depression, and Gwen sat in the shop for a fortnight without a single customer. As a result, they decided to close the shop.
Mrs Smallridge was then suffering from health problems so they let the private residence at Sundial House to Miss Coote-Brown and let out the shop separately. Mrs Smallridge and Gwen moved to a house in Bramley.
In Bramley they lived next door to Mrs Ethel Viney, a widow with three sons. The eldest son fell in love with Gwen instantly and they were later engaged. Sadly, Mrs Smallridge only lived to see them engaged and died before they were married in Cranleigh parish church. Gwen and her husband then lived in Cranleigh and sold Sundial House in the 1950’s to pay school fees for their children.
