40 Years - The Canterbury Care Centre's History

​By the late 1970's, public policy about how best to care for those with mental health struggles was changing. The old hospitals were starting to close in favour of community care. One of these was Brookwood, located near Woking. Brookwood finally closed it's doors for good in 1994, but in the decade leading up to then the number of patients was being gradually reduced.

​In 1981, worried about the lack of provision being put in place for those leaving Brookwood, the Canterbury Care Centre was formed. Run by a small group of volunteers from a single room (the "Canterbury Room" in Church House), the centre provided a social group for former Brookwood residents. Some of our members and volunteers still remember this time.

The Canterbury Care Centre started with a single room in Church House. That room is called the Canterbury Room

Growth of the Centre
Gradually, numbers at the Centre started to grow beyond this core group. The environment and activities provided by the Centre were not found anywhere else in Guildford and people from further afield started to attend. Nevertheless, the Centre still retains the same welcoming atmosphere.


We are slowly digitising our archive of fascinating pictures and documents, recently rediscovered in a dark damp corner of the cellar in Church House. Keep an eye on our Pictures from Our Past pages below: 
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<<2015
​<<1983

If you have any more details on the Canterbury Care Centre's history, or remember us from days past, please feel free to contact us.