HC Deb 16 June 1953 vol 516 cc707-8
8. Mr. Crosland

asked the Minister of Works whether he was consulted before the historic mansion of Coleshill, Berkshire, was demolished after the recent fire; how far he had powers to prevent the demolition; and what would have been the cost of preserving the fabric of the building as it stood after the fire.

Sir D. Eccles

Yes, Sir. My Department, as well as the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, was fully consulted before the remains of Coleshill were demolished. A preservation order can be made under the Ancient Monuments Acts if a monument is in danger from neglect or damage. Coleshill was, however, in a dangerous, as well as a ruinous, condition, and it was decided not to make an order, and no estimate of the cost of preserving the ruins was made.

Mr. Crosland

Is the Minister aware that Coleshill was a house of quite exceptional architectural quality? Are we to take it from his reply that it was physically quite impossible to have preserved the structure which remained, and which in fact was the whole of the outer structure?

Sir D. Eccles

The Minister of Housing and Local Government and I both looked at this and came to the conclusion that, as the condition was so dangerous, a preservation order would not help.

Sir Edward Keeling

As this house was perhaps the most beautiful in all England and experts reported that it could be repaired and was not dangerous except to itself, will my right hon. Friend consider the possibility of legislation at some opportunity which would prevent such an irreparable loss to the country?

Sir D. Eccles

It is a matter of one expert against another. The experts of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and my own held that the structure was not worth preserving in that condition.

Mr. Stokes

When the Minister says that he and the Minister of Housing and Local Government "looked at it," does that mean that they really looked at the house, or did they look at reports, which is quite a different thing?

Sir D. Eccles

I often look at historic houses, and care for them very much. AH the same, this was a matter for experts.

Mr. Stokes

Did the right hon. Gentleman see it?

Sir D. Eccles

I did not see it. I looked at reports from officers in my Department, whose reputation is well established.