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Camden New Journal - Letters to the Editor
Published: 29 November 2007

Question mark over Heritage

• I READ the Forum article by Paddy Pugh, English Heritage’s director of London region, on Smithfield Market with interest (We’ll pay a high price for this glass and steel office block, November 15).
It was heartening to note Mr Pugh’s laudable attempts to protect this fine Victorian building .
Such a pity then, that Mr Pugh failed to exercise the same degree of protection to Manor House Library in Old Road, Lewisham – a Grade II * listed Georgian building – from the desecration of its main entrance hall by the insertion of a four-storey lift shaft into that space.
Of course, the same English Heritage argument is given: “It will be in the best long-term interest of the building to do this.”
No, Mr. Pugh. It will be the wanton destruction of a rare example of heritage in the bereft borough of Lewisham.
But then, it is in Lewisham, not Camden. So, alternative agendas apply.
PETER RICHARDSON
Chairman
Users & Friends of Manor House Library,
Lewisham, SE13

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, Camden New Journal, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@camdennewjournal.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Tuesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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