THE REPLANNING OF LONDON
Sitt,—I wonder whether those of your correspondents who write so glibly about the replanning of London realise that Londoners as a whole will wish to live after the war in London, and not in some architect's dream-city? Surely the great charm of London is that in plan and outline she still remains a mediaeval city and that, just as the River Thames is liquified history, so are London streets petrified history.
Nowadays the reconstruction of mediaeval buildings in accordance with an architect's notions of what they should look like is rightly execrated. To deal with an ancient city in a similar manner would be equally deplorable. This was what was done to Paris under the Second Empire. The result may be magnificent—but Paris, the Paris of history, ceased to exist in 186o.
There is in existence an excellent Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings. Has it become necessary to contemplate the formation of a Society for the Protection of Ancient Towns?—Yours faithfully, F. DARWIN Fox. 9 Fisher Street, Red Lion Square, W.C. 1.
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