DEFILEMENT OF THE COUNTRYSIDE [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
you have among your readers any with influence over those who control the affairs of Magdalen College, Oxford, I hope that they will use that influence to restrain the Estates Bursary of the College from scattering corrugated- iron sheds over the countryside round Oxford. Let me give you a case in point. In the parish of Wheatley is a fine Tudor farmhouse, known as the Rectory Farm, the property of Magdalen. Here, actually adjoining this gracious survival of Elizabeth's reign, they have erected a large corrugated-iron cowshed and a Dutch barn of the same material. On the top of Bullsdown (or, indifferently, Bowlsdown), which is nearly if not quite the highest point in the parish, they have erected another Dutch barn which can be seen for miles round. This, by the way, is on the site of a mediaeval castle, the ancient well of which is still in use.
Now Magdalen have recently acquired several estates in this neighbourhood ; the whole of the parish of Waterperry, Mr. Philip Morrell's estate at Garsington, and farms at Shabbington, Stadhampton and Kingsey, whilst they have over a thousand acres in Cuddesdon.
I am past travelling about so cannot see for myself to ivhat extent the Bursary is following this policy of erecting corrugated-iron buildings, but I am told on good authority that this is the form of building commonly provided, and I have evidence that it is the Bursary's policy.
I think that many will agree with me that this is a very poor contribution by a body of educated men to the movement for the preservation of the beauty of the
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