ARCHBISHOP ABBOT'S HOSPITAL AT GUILDFORD. [To THE EDITOR OF THE
"SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—The growing importance of the attractions of our roads must be our excuse for this letter. By the combined action of he Road Board, the Surrey County Council, and the Corpora- tion of Guildford, a block of buildings has been removed in order to widen the eastern approach to the Guildford High Street for the exigencies of modern traffic. Incidentally and unexpectedly there has been revealed the eastern flank of one of the finest Jacobean buildings in the country, Archbishop Abbot's Hospital, with its towers and the east window of its chapel. The sale of the surplus land for building, by which it was very properly intended to reduce the cost of the whole road-widening scheme, would result in again hiding what has been pbscured at some point in the town's history by a grievous error. A generous offer of £2,000 by Mr. Hoskin Master'toward the dedication of the cleared site as an open space raises the presumption that this added beauty will be secured for the town, and for the many thousands who drive for their pleasure along the Portsmouth Road, by this money and by public opinion. But more of both is wanted, and the time is desperately short. There remains only a ten days' interval before the final decision as to the disposal of the land is reached. Certain disfiguring structures have to be removed, and the site has to be laid out. There is no doubt that the bulk of the money should come from the immediate neigh. bourhood, but contingent promises of monetary help will be welcomed, together with the expressed opinion of those who know and use the road, and who recognize how seldom it is that a reconstructive opportunity of this importance presents itself. Communications may be addressed to Mr. A. C. Curtis, 144A. High Street, Guildford.—We are, Sir, &c., HERBERT A. POWELL, Acting for a Special Committee.
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