Sir: Congratulations to Gavin Stamp and to you — for
highlighting the deficien- cies of English Heritage, in particular in London, where its bureaucratic rumblings and its lack of understanding are a cause for concern.
It is obvious to those who know that in many fields the late GLC played an admir- able role, one based on a long tradition and expert knowledge, the running of Ken- wood House, Marble Hill House and Ranger's House being a good example.
Yet, under English Heritage, Kenwood was originally classified as a 'roofed site', as if it were an outhouse at Stonehenge, and not properly treated as a living museum and art gallery, one of the dangers it faces being the loss of its regular major exhibition, staged with such skill by John Jacob, the curator, and his staff.
Instead of concentrating on maintaining those displays, English Heritage has been more interested in the dubious plan of hiring out its magnificent rooms for private dinner parties. That, indeed, tells us a lot.
As far as Chiswick House is concerned, you will be pleased to learn that after the recent disasters there English Heritage has finally recognised the worth of the Hampstead-based team that manages Ken- wood, Marble Hill and Ranger's House and put Chiswick under the same capable control.
Yet the funds necessary to restore this great Palladian villa, now without its ori- ginal furniture, will no doubt be withheld by an organisation with such a shocking record of under-spending. We hope Lord Montagu will tell us otherwise.
Gerald Isaaman
9 Lyndhurst Road, London NW3
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