History

The Leatherhead Institute was built and given to the community by our wealthy benefactor Abraham Dixon of Cherkely Court in 1892. Born in 1820, he was successful in wool and manufacturing industries, and completed our building in 1892, a few years before his death in 1900.

He gave this building in Trust for the community of Leatherhead, to provide educational, social and recreational facilities - a great asset for our town.

Abraham Dixon’s grave, where he is buried in a double plot alongside his wife, can be found in the graveyard of the Leatherhead Parish Church, St Mary and St Nicholas on Church Road. It was recently tidied up and restored by the trustees of the Leatherhead Institute as can be seen in the before and after views below.