A THREAT TO WINCHELSEA
Sm,—Winchelsea is our heritage from the days of the first Edward. Its hill-top site and lay-out in squares make it a notable example of thir- teenth-century town-planning. Its ancient buildings, grey stone walls and mediaeval cellars make it a place of peaceful charm in a changing world. All this is now threatened by the modern town-planner. There is an urgent demand for more houses, but instead of utilising the acres of land laid out for building in the thirteenth century and still available in the southern half of the town, it is now proposed to build new houses in the already built-up area, thus increasing the density of the present charmingly placed buildings—in fact putting new wine into old bottles, with the risk of losing the ancient atmosphere of the place. One of the details of the project is particularly objectionable. It is proposed to acquire one of the squares—quarter 4—known as Friars Orchard, on which stood the house of the Black Friars consecrated to religious uses from 1358 till their suppression in 1538, and to utilise the ground for building half-a-dozen or more Council houses. At a recent parish meeting the local people actually approved of this proposal, which, to many who know Winchelsea, seems quite unjustifiable while so much vacant ground is available at the other end of the town. I feel sure that if this threat becomes known to the lovers of this=one of the two " ancient towns "—public opinion will be outspoken enough to condemn the project.—Yours faithfully, Joint E. RAY. 47 Havelock Road, Hastings.
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