LETTERS Kenwood mixers
Sir: Mr Gavin Stamp's article (`The de- basement of heritage', 2 April) and the recent correspondence in your columns unfortunately does little to enhance Ken- wood as an exceptionally fine historic house with outstanding works of art. It has its own special character as a 'country house museum' within the confines of London and its future now seems assured.
Kenwood has proved a marvellous survi- vor; in 1981 the GLC Arts & Recreations chairman Mr Tony Banks launched a project to sell off the art collection but was stopped by the terms of the Iveagh Bequest (Kenwood) Act 1929. The house's survival was again at stake with the abolition of the GLC, its sole administrative trustee.
The Government's decision to transfer Kenwood's trusteeship to Lord Montagu's English Heritage with an order from the Environment Secretary to re-unite 112 acres of 18th-century parkland, which was part of Lord Mansfield's original estate was admirable. This arrangement surely now needs to be fostered and built upon by those of us who care for our cultural inheritance.
Kenwood is recognised internationally as a museum with outstanding contents including the famous Rembrandt self por- trait, Vermeer's ravishing 'Guitar Player' and Gainsborough's exquisite Lady Howe. But, as your correspondent rightly points out, since English Heritage took over, the curatorial staff has been able to make handsome additions to the collection. Ken- wood enjoys an average of 165,000 visitors a year to the museum alone free of admission charges.
Naturally there have been predictable problems with the hand-over of Kenwood from the GLC to English Heritage. These have equally predictably been exaccrbated by ill-considered press reports.
It is, of course, important that Kenwood should not suffer any bureaucratic hangov- ers, and happily Lord Montagu has wel- comed the co-operation of the Friends of Kenwood, and a Trust fund for the London Historic House Museums has been set up under Lord Hutchinson to assist with purchases and amenities along the Amer- ican lines of private sponsorship.
On balance it augers well.
George J. Levy
Chairman. The Friends of the Iveagh Bequest. Kenwood.
119 Mount Street, London WI
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