BUNKERS HILL, N.W.
[COMMUNICATED.]
[On another page appears a letter from Mrs. Barnett setting forth plans for a proposed Anglo-American War Memorial on BunkersHill, Hampstead.] THE name of "Bunkers Hill" is known to all of us. It is sufficiently familiar to make the Hampsteadian repeat it reminiscently before admitting that he does not know where it is.
"Is it hereabouts ? " "Is it really a hill ? " "You don't mean Hill Terrace ? " were three replies to inquiries for it from three passers-by on what afterwards proved to be the lower slopes of the hill itself. An artist was sketch- ing beneath the enclosing hedge, a golfer was playing upon its summit. Both thought that they had heard of Bunkers Hill ; neither knew whether their hill had that or any other name. Bartholomew's Royal Atlas of England and Wales has no knowledge of the Hampstead Bunkers Hill—though one in Lincolnshire and another in Staffordshire are mentioned.
For all that, an undeniable eminence of that name does veritably exist within five miles of Charing Cross. It has a wide prospect to the North and West over miles of undulating country so thickly set with trees that it is difficult to realize one is not overlooking a great park wherein Highgate and Golders Green form the only islands of human activity. The former is perched on its wooded ridge and the latter spread out on a gentle rise in the foreground, displaying to full advantage its admirable lay-out and the fine buildings by Sir Edwin Lutyens that form its centre and its crown. There can be no question as to the beauty of the views from our Bunkers Hill or of its immediate setting—the curve of a tree-lined road dividing it from the heath itself, to which, we may hope, it will soon be added.
The purchase and preservation of Ken Wood, which adjoins to the south, is also to be devoutly hoped for but that is a far more ambitious and costly project than the acquisition of Bunkers Hill, and one fears that it is propor- tionately less likely to be realized. At any rate, one may in the world to exchange that unstudied and fugitive charm CLOUGH WILLIAMS-ELLIS. for the ordered grandeur of a monumental lay-out. A light and sympathetic hand is clearly needed in this matter, and a strictly limited amount of " architecture," or FINANCE-PTJBL1C AND PRIVATE the natural graces of the little hill will be crushed and obliterated by features that, admirable in themselves, are AFTER THE STRIKE. a distraction and an impertinence when they exceed in size (To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECIATOR."3 or number—especially where one has left the city behind SIR,—Since I last wrote to you on the financial situation to seek quietness in a natural sanctuary. Not that cul- as a whole there have been a number of events, social, tivated man cannot almost always improve upon un- political, and financial, which seem likely to play a consider- cultivated Nature, and improve almost any " wild " view able part in determining the future course of financial and by judicious planting and cutting or by the introduction economic developments. First and foremost, of course, of building or roads or water. The idea that the works we have had the settlement of the protracted coal strike. of Nature are necessarily all good, and the works of Nature's (I distinctly prefer to call it by that name.) In the second masterpiece, man, are necessarily all bad—" that every place, we have in pro3pect the conference with the Sinn prospect pleases and only man is vile "—is as mischievous Fein leaders ; and in the third place, and most important of as it is false and demoralizing. all, we have the suggestion put forward by the President of The mid-Victorians may have had, perhaps, some grounds the United States with regard to a conference concerning for such desperate pessimism—but we are no longer disposed the possible limitation of armaments. In view of these to be so abject. We know that England might be beautified three events, it is scarcely surprising that a more hopeful as Italy was beautified—given faith and works and time. feeling should have prevailed during the past week or two; There are few" beautification" projects, if any, that could and although there has appeared somewhat unexpectedly not find inspiration in Italy, and anyone who has ever seen the prospectus of yet another Government loan, that the Sacro-Monte of Orta or of Varallo will inevitably recall issue has not so far had any seriously disturbing effect it when any proposal is made for a Hill of Remembrance. upon existing investment securities. To quote a previous Spectator article * :— Lest I should be charged with under-estimating the "On a spur of the hills overlooking an exquisite mountain importance of these three factors—for I am aware that my lake the builders of the Sacro-Monte presented their offering to letters to the Spectator scarcely err on the side of optimism God. They carved out of their native woodlands a scheme of —let me say at once that I regard each one of supreme green and winding glades overshadowed by tall chestnuts and stately pines and beeches—never too many or too few, but importance. The indefinite continuation of the strike exhibiting the happiest mixture of Nature and of Art. And must have brought the country to ruin ; civil war in a always between leaves and branches, even in the height of suinmer, country so near and so closely knit to us as Ireland is the pilgrims of the Hill catch glimpses of the blue lake and its something wholly inconsistent with conditions of real island town, or of the bluer sky and the widespread plain. Through this hill park wander broad and sinuous roads, or wide Prosperity in Great Britain itself ; while should the autumn paths, sometimes wholly of grass, and sometimes of stone. The conference at Washington conceivably result in such a stone-pitched paths have those broad, shallow steps which restoration of international goodwill and confidence as to decorate all the hills of Italy, whether in the Alps or Apennines— bring a great limitation of armaments within the sphere of a heritage from the Roman roadmakers. Bordering these roads are set, with an artful innocence of design that defies practical politics, it would be almost impossible to exagger- analysis, a series of exquisite Chapels built in mountain stone ate its effect in contributing to a return of prosperity to and hard plaster. The Orta, Chapels are the perfection of that Europe as a whole, a prosperity, moreover, in which this garden architecture which is Italy's singular prerogative. The country would share in full measure. Therefore it can be little classical buildings which delight one in the backgrounds of primitive pictures, but which one never sees in bricks and admitted that in these three factors we have something mortar in the towns, are scattered with a lavish hand through- warranting renewed hopefulness, and we . can no more out the sylvan solitudes of the Orta hillside. One can best afford to disregard the inspiration which comes from such describe the Orta Chapels, with the delicate wan Italian grass hopefulness than we can afford to ignore the many dangerous growing up to the short flights of steps which lead to the little pl Itforms on which they stand, as a mixture of a summer-house to and a shrine." attention in my weekly letters.
Our little Bunkers Hill cannot bear the rich load of Orta's Nevertheless, as the result of a discussion in many Sacred Mountain—the material subjects and the ultimate quarters in the City, I do not hesitate to affirm that our objects are too dissimilar to allow of any direct translation greatest chance of realizing the hopes suggested by the —but the description, and still more the place itself, may events I have referred to lies not so much in dwelling upon prove suggestive. dreams as in tackling the serious situation which still exists. One may imagine, for instance, a small arena or plat- We have only to look back to 1918 and to remember Mr. form surmounting the hill enclosed by a low parapet wall Lloyd George's reckless electioneering promise i with regard over which one sees the spreading panorama of typical to the "new world" and the homes "fit for heroes" to home-county scenery—possibly between the columns of a recall the harm which may result from an easy premature colonnade or pergola, or the clean stems of pollard limes, optimism, and to realize how different might have The space within the surrounding wall is terraced up been the position to-day if instead of indu'ging such to the centre—the top of the hill—seats being set beneath dreams the Prime Minister had reminded the country of the the crown of trees on the ascending levels, facing every way. gigantic task which lay before it in retrieving the losses of In the midst of all, at the highest point, might stand the the war, and had chosen the opportunity for making a little temple with graven tablets setting forth what needed stirring call to strenuous effort. And 80 to-day .I suggest, to be told, with regard to these three developments I have enumer- The place would be approached by alleys of pleached ated, that it is upon the first—namcly, the conclusion of the lime, chestnut, or hornbeam, flag-paved, cobble-bordered, coal strike—that attention should be concentrated. The carefully graded, with stone seats set at convenient intervals, other items—namely, the Shin Fein conference and the The alleys would ascend the hill from such directions that probable autumn conference at Washington—are matters the chief prospects were not masked by their trees, and the importance of which the future alone can determine. would lead one into the central court between tall stone piers. Moreover, I suggest that there is also a sense in which a The temple, however small and unsophisticated, would fruitful outcome of those conferences can best be promoted teach us—or at least tell us—whatever its founders might by a clear and sober recognition of the serious economic think it well to say in sculpture, painting, or the written Position at the moment, for the more the gravity of that word. position is perceived the clearer will be the recognition of In the case of the Outlook Tower on the Castle Rock at the necessity for peaceful conditions to favour improvement. surely hope that the relatively modest sum mentioned by Edinburgh, Professor Geddes has made the building a most Mrs. Barnett will be quickly found, and that so attractive engaging demonstrator of geography, astronomy, sociology, a scheme as she describes will not be sterilized for lack of and much else that has occupied his imaginative and funds. ingenious mind. There again the founders of our Bunkers Bunkers Hill is a little hill, and its present charm is Hill Memorial might well find encouragement and help.
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