[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sia,—Most readers of the
Spectator no doiibt know of the danger threatening one of the most beautiful spots within thirty miles of London through the fact that the east bank of Friday Street and of the valley above it is on offer as a " choice freehold building estate . . . absolutely, un- restricted." Some, however, may not realize how important it is that the estate as a whole—sixty acres .in all—should be secured for the public and preserved as an open space for ever, or how great is the danger that the efforts to achieve this will fail. The option which the organizers, of the preser- vation fund hOld has been extended by the vendor, Sir Frederic Richmond, till October 17th, and he has himself promised £2,000 towards the £8,500 required to save the property. To-day, with ten days to run, close on £3,000 is still needed.
There are, no doubt, other open spaces deserVing of preservation, but Friday Street, with its woods and its water, and open commons stretching away to east and west to protect its peace, is very nearly unique. There may be some readers of the Spectator who do not know what beauty they could help to preserve by sending a donation to the preservation fund, and others who do know this and mean to subscribe but have never got quite as far as putting pen to paper. The help of both is urgently needed and needed at once.—I am, Sir, &c., H. WILSON -HARRIS.
7 Hill Close, Golders Green, N.W.
[The Spectator very cordially endorses the appeal made for the Friday Street Preservation Fund. There are few more lovely corners of Surrey than the tree- shadowed pool lying in the valley that -separates Wotton and Abinger Commons. If Friday Street, with the land adjoining it, can be saved from the builder' it will unite the two commons, as it does not to-day, while the Severells estate (the property it is hoped to acquire for the public) is still enclosed; If the attempt at preservation fails and the land is sold for building, then_ beauty which can never be restored may be marred for ever. To help to save so perfect a piece of English countryside is a privilege rather than a. sacrifice, the more so since Friday Street is near enough to London to give pleasure to thousands whose lives are cast of necessity in very different surroundings. We know that if Mr. St. Loe Strachey had been alive he would have identified himself with this appeal.—En. Spectator.]
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