THE DESTROYERS Sta,Far more damage is being done in Kent
and Sussex by land speculators and house agents to old, interesting and beautiful build- ings and places than ever was done during the way by flying bombs.
My husband's old family home has recently changed hands and, as a result of that change, is to be demolished.
The oldest part of this house is eighteenth century, and it was added to 110 years ago by Field Marshal Sir Henry Hardinge, the First Viscount Hardinge. Since then it has not been touched, and until recently was full of interest- ing relics from the Napoleonic and Sikh Wars.
The house is unique, as it combines 'Indian and English ideas in a way I have not seen elsewhere. This house has never been my husband's property.
There is, apparently, no protection against those who wish to destroy these places, and it is done very quickly.
This is only one of many instances I know of, and indeed I was instrumental—with others —in saving a far older and more interesting place in our locality recently.
It really does not seem right that our English heritage should be destroyed, and I wanted to take the opportunity, the wreck of one old home presents, to see if more cannot be done to help to save others.—Yours faithfully, Oak field, Penshurst, Kent
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