§ Mr. MANDERasked the First Commissioner of Works in how many cases descriptive pamphlets are available for purchase to the public in connection with ancient monuments under the control of the Office of Works, and in how many cases no such booklets exist; when it is proposed to provide them in respect of Haughmond Abbey and Acton Burnell, Shropshire; and whether it is the general practice of the Department to do so?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREPamphlets or guide-books are on sale for 63 of the ancient monuments and historic buildings under the control of the Office of Works: all but five of these are official productions1420W printed by His Majesty's Stationery Office. Guides to 35 more are in preparation or have been commissioned, and it is my intention to arrange for the production of such guide books or pamphlets for all the monuments where they would be worth while. Of 248 monuments that remain, some are barrows or other prehistoric remains for which a guide book would not be justified. But at a number of these monuments notes are available for the information of the public. A guide book to Haughmond Abbey is in preparation, but there are not yet sufficient visitors to Acton Burnell to justify giving this monument special priority in the production of a pamphlet.