The Borings' move
Sir: Your readers may be aware that Stephen Gardiner and Christopher Knight, the architects of the new home for Sir John Baring at Stratton Park, instituted libel Proceedings against myself and my pub- lishers, The Bodley Head, over certain Passages in my book The Latest Country Houses. A review of the book by the Spectator's architectural correspondent, Gavin Stamp, appeared in the issue of 10 November 1984. Mr Stamp repeated one Of the allegations that gave rise to the libel Proceedings, namely that the design for Stratton Park had proved so impractical that a decade later Sir John Baring had had to move out.
What said was based on faulty recollec- tion of a visit to Stratton Park some ten Years previously, and I now know and accept that what I wrote about the reason for the Barings' move was totally unfound- ed. The Barings reluctantly decided to move for reasons quite unconnected with the design or functioning of the house with which they were very happy. I naturally regret that I did not check my recollection with Sir John or Mr Gardiner or Mr Knight before my book was published.
My publishers and I recently paid Mr Gardiner and Mr Knight damages and their legal costs. We have also apologised to them in the High Court in respect of the offending passages in the book, which we acknowledged to be unfounded. I very much hope that this letter can be published in this week's issue of the Spectator so that the record is finally put straight.
John Martin Robinson
8 Doughty Mews, London WC1
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