§ Mr. Luardasked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether his Department and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government have come to a conclusion about the future of the five old houses which have been built into the ruins of the west front of Bury St. Edmunds' Abbey; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. John SilkinYes. My right hon. Friend and I have reached the conclusion which is shared by the Ancient Monuments Board and the Historic Buildings Council, that the best solution will be to combine the indefinite preservation of the present appearance of the West Front with the uncovering and display of as much as possible of the medieval remains and the protection of the rest. This would involve the indefinite retention of the three houses in the middle, with appropriate safeguards for the medieval fabric, and the transfer to my Department of the two end properties and certain minor additions at the rear for treatment in a way which would not impair the appearance of the West Front.
I am now in touch with the Bury Corporation, who own the properties, with a view to implementing these arrangements.