HC Deb 21 June 1877 vol 235 c83
SIR GEORGE BOWYER

asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether the Government will take any steps to preserve, or contribute to the expense of preserving, the valuable historical stained glass window in St. Margaret's Church, which is the Church of the House of Commons? In explanation of his Question, the hon. and learned Member read the following extract from a letter on the subject written by Canon Earrer:— The east window of St. Margaret's Church was originally intended by the magistrates of Dort as a present to Henry VII. for the marriage of his son Prince Arthur to Catherine of Arragon, and it was meant for Henry VII.'s Chapel, hut before it arrived the King died. The window fell into the hands of Abbot Waltham, who kept it till the dissolution of the monastries. Fuller, the last Abbot, sent it to New Hall, Essex, and it was bought by Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, whose son sold it to General Monk, who buried it to preserve it from the Puritans. It was afterwards bought for 1,000 guineas for St. Margaret's Church. It contains portraits of Prince Arthur and Catherine. I had it examined by Messrs. Clayton and Bell, who reported that no modern artist can restore it, and that the only thing that can be done to preserve it from decay is to encase it on both sides with plate glass, and that this would cost at least £200.

MR. GERARD NOEL

I heard with interest the letter just now read by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for the county of Wexford. I quite concur with him as to the importance of preserving the valuable historical window in St. Margaret's Church; but perhaps he is not aware that the Government have already given £1,500 towards the restoration of the church, as appeared in the Estimates of this year, and I fear there is no fund from which an additional contribution can be made; but I have no doubt, now that the attention of the public has been called to the matter by my hon. and learned Friend, that subscriptions will soon fall in and swell the contribution given by the Government, so that this historical old window may be taken down, properly replaced, and for the future protected from injury.