Outrage
Sir: In his review of John Martin Robin- son's book The Latest Country Houses Gavin Stamp is 'pleased' to repeat untrue and damaging statements made about Stratton Park by the author. I and my former partner have both written architec- tural criticism and are well aware of the need to check facts, particularly when one has adverse comments to make. John Martin Robinson consulted neither Sir John Baring who built the house nor our- selves as architects.
His description of Stratton Park is a tra- vesty of the facts, deliberately slanted to demonstrate what he considers to be the failure of modern architecture to solve even the practical, technical problems it specifically claims to tackle, in contrast to the success of the traditionalist answer — neo-Georgian in his book.
He and Stamp both ignore entirely the main point of interest of Stratton Park, which is the attempt to incorporate in the design of a modern house and its setting the classical portico from the demolished mansion, preserved as a result of our per- suasion. This was one possible solution to the problem of replacing a derelict house of unmanageable size, riddled with dry rot, the only 'superb' feature of which was the portico, given new life and dramatic effect by the reflecting pool which links it to the conservatory of the new house.
The validity of this approach and its sue-
cess or failure in practice is a better subject for a review than the relaying of untrue statements inspired by gossip and a slack and shoddy critical faculty.
Christopher Knight
68 Grove Park Road, London W4
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