City and Suburban
HE War Damage Commission has never been noted for generosity. Indeed, were it generous all sorts of crooks would be taking advantage of it. But over the restoration of the famous Wren church of St. Bride's, Fleet Street, the Commission has stepped out of the world of finance into that of aesthetics. It has ordained that the interior visible stonework is to be made good in plaster or in plastic stone and painted. The Rector, churchwardens and architect have very rightly protested, and by doing so are performing a pioneer service for other people who have to consider the restoration of famous buildings and to contend with the Meanness of the War Damage Commissioners. By what right, I wonder, does the Commission prescribe materials for restoration ? Supposing we were concerned, not with a Masterpiece of architecture but with the repair of a master- Piece of painting in a public art gallery. Would the Treasury, granting money for the repair, be entitled to say to the director of the gallery, You must not restore this in oil paint, like the original, as that is too expensive, but you may use water Colour or poster paint' ?
Previous page
