74. Mr. Watkinsasked the Minister of Works what price was paid by his Department for the mantelpiece bought at a sale at Halnaby Hall, near Darlington; and for what purpose it was bought.
§ Mr. EcclesI should like to have preserved Halnaby Hall for the nation, but no money was available. I therefore tried to buy some of the outstanding fitments. The most important of these was a remarkable mantelpiece in the Adam tradition which we would all want to see remain in this country. I paid 500 guineas for it.
84WA mantelpiece of this quality is needed for an apartment in Kensington Palace, the restoration of which is greatly overdue.