HL Deb 01 August 1887 vol 318 cc685-7
THE EARL OF MILLTOWN

asked Her Majesty's Government, Whether the First Commissioner of Works would take steps to have the colonnades of Burlington House, now lying derelict on the banks of the river, in Battersea Park, protected from injury, either by a fence or some other adequate provision? These colonnades were beautiful works of art, and he had been surprised to find the Representative of the Office of Works in that House inclined to pooh-pooh suggestions with regard to them.

THE EARL OF WEMYSS

said, there was no greater scandal to the Office of Works than that those colonnades should have been allowed to lie from year to year on the banks of the river. All the children of the Metropolis were playing hide-and-seek amongst them. He was afraid they were so much injured now by the exposure and the treatment to be which they had been subjected as to be of little value.

LORD HENNIKER

, in reply, said, he would not enter into the architectural merits of the colonnades; but he must deny that he had pooh-poohed their artistic value. In what he had said in the House on a former occasion he had stated that a great many schemes had been laid before the First Commissioner of Works with regard to them, which had all been pronounced impracticable, not merely on the ground of expense, but in regard to finding an adequate situation for them. The noble Earl had himself been invited to make any suggestion for their being placed in a proper position; but he had so far made none. With regard to the proposal that they should be fenced round, it was necessary to explain that a Bill was now before Parliament handing over Battersea Park, amongst other places, to the Metropolitan Board of Works. Under these circumstances, the First Commissioner of Works did not think he ought to give any pledge as to what he would do to protect these remains; but he was instructed to say that when the question for handing over the Park was settled, if it remained in his hands to deal with the matter, he would give the proposal of the noble Earl his most careful consideration.

THE EARL OF MILLTOWN

asked whether he was to understand that the colonnades were to be handed over to the Board of Works with the Park?

LORD HENNIKER

I am unable to say, as there is no provision in the Bill with respect to them; but this point will be decided by my right hon. Friend (Mr. Plunket) when the Bill is passed.