11 NOVEMBER 1989, Page 27

Muddling Gibbons

Sir: I read the article by David Esterly about the Grinling Gibbons carvings at Hampton Court (`The mystery solved', 28 October) with great interest. By chance I have been reading a book by Robert Henry about the war in London in 1942; and he writes of going to Hampton Court in that Year and meeting Mr Talbot, the palace superintendent, who took him to watch the workmen removing the Grinling Gibbons carvings as they were to be taken to a safe place.

Surely this must be the year the carvings were moved and the mistakes with posi- tioning made when they were returned.

Gilly Cryer

Oak Cottage, High Street, Odiham, Hants