§ MR. DIXON-HARTLAND (Middlesex, Uxbridge)asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether, in view of two fires having taken place at Hampton Court Palace during the last four years, he is prepared to take any, and, if so, what, steps for the preservation of the Art Treasures in that Palace from further risk of destruction?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER (Mr. PLUNKET) (Dublin University)The question of the safety of the works of art at Hampton Court was carefully considered by a Departmental Committee after the fire which occurred in the Palace in 1882, and on the recommendations of that Committee measures 262 were taken for affording them protection; for instance, structural alterations were made in the galleries, by which they were subdivided into compartments, separated by fireproof partitions; and elaborate arrangements were devised for facilitating the removal of the pictures and tapestries in case of fire. Since the fire of last November the subject has again been very fully gone into by the Departmental Committee; and they have come to the conclusion that the precautions taken after the fire in 1882, with some modifications of detail, are sufficient for the safety of these works of art.
§ MR. DIXON-HARTLANDasked if the First Commissioner was satisfied that there was no risk to the pictures in the event of another fire breaking out? There had been two fires in four years.
§ MR. PLUNKETsaid, he was satisfied that the pictures were as safe in Hampton Court as they could be in almost any building they could be removed to; and certainly the country air, he was assured on the best authority, agreed with them better than London air would do.