§ LORD STRABOLGIMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware that the house on the south side of the Thames where Sir Christopher Wren lived while St. Paul's Cathedral was being built is rapidly decaying, and whether any action is being taken to save it from further deterioration.
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, the Government are aware that this house, No. 49 Bankside, is in need of repair, but I understand from the Greater London Council that the owner intends, as soon as he can, to carry out repairs to the building.
§ LORD STRABOLGIMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply. Arising out of it, I should like to ask two supplementary questions. First, is it true that this is a listed building, so that the owner is required by law to keep it in repair? Secondly, is he aware that, apart from its interest and connection with Sir Christopher Wren, it has connections with Catherine of Aragon, and that she lodged there on her way to be betrothed to Henry, Prince of Wales, later King Henry VIII?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, in answer to the first question asked by the noble Lord, it is a listed building, and therefore is subject to service of a repairs notice if the owner does not comply with what the local council requires. With regard to his second question, I am aware of the 494 plaque on the house. Whether it applies to this house, which is late seventeenth century or early eighteenth century, I am not quite sure. My information is that Catherine of Aragon, who landed in 1501, came in by way of Banstead Downs in Surrey. A previous Lord of my name was one of the party that went to meet her and brought her to London.
§ LORD ARWYNMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that in a very short time there will be a dearth of stone craftsmen? These buildings were built of Clipsham stone, Portland stone and Bath stone. The repairs to these old buildings have now become a matter of urgency, because in far less than twenty years' time there will be very few, if any, craftsmen left who can handle these problems.
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, the Southwark Council and the G.L.C. are both aware of this problem, and if these owners do not comply, I expect that the authorities will be serving a repairs notice. But there is no reason to suppose that this owner will not carry out repairs as soon as he can.