THE PRESERVATION OF ELIZABETHAN PLYMOUTH [To the Editor of the
SPECTATOR.]
Sin,—Your readers interested in the most dramatic period of English history will be glad to learn that what remains of the buildings of that period in Plymouth, whence Drake and Howard sailed to meet the Armada and the Pilgrim Fathers embarked, may yet be saved.
The Corporation, and the Ministry of Health, have decided to recondition the entire little area, perched on the rocky slopes leading up to the historic Hoe, and now we may help to restore one or two of the ancient houses which saw these stirring events (as stirring to our blood now as they were to our ancestors) in as nearly as possible the same condition as then, and retain, where they can earn their living, along the seashore, the majority of the thirteen hundred inhabitants, many of whom are credibly believed to be direct descendants of those living there in Elizabethan days.
But we must raise the money, as this is not the kind of thing that can be done out of the rates, and, like other dock- yard towns, Plymouth is hard hit, and has recently had to face the cost of the sad disaster there. The present generation of Plymouthians are helping well, but we need another 0,000.
Cheques may be sent to me here, or to Mr. A. R. Powys, of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, 20 Buckingham Street, W.C. 2, or to the Mayor, Guildhall, Plymouth. The givers will receive a little brochure, with ex- planatory drawings, to keep as a memento of what they may
care to do to help.—! am, Sir, &c., PHILIP E. PILDITCH. 8 Old Bond Street, W.1.
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