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We must save Athlone House as part of our wartime heritage
• YOUR article (How Athlone helped defeat Hitler, June 25) about the secret life of Athlone House as one of the nerve centres of Britain’s effort against the Nazis is not only a revelation to us all, but a timely exposé of how this national monument is under imminent threat of destruction from what appears to be the stereotypical ruthless developer.
Permission for the large and highly lucrative flats being built adjacent was conditional on the full restoration of the mansion, which was readily accepted by the developers.
The fact that they sold the mansion in no way negates that obligation, as the developer and the mansion’s new owner remain jointly responsible. David Cooper’s frank public statement that his client has no intention of abiding by the condition to restore the mansion is astonishing.
He is right in saying that the house “has been messed around” not least by his client, whom Camden are currently pursuing for failing to maintain it satisfactorily; though when we inspected it only two weeks ago, it was quite clear to us that it is eminently capable of restoration. If his “magnificent new landmark” – an application for which has been promised – is anything like the plans produced a year or two ago, it will be an overblown and vulgar monument to his client’s excess of money and absence of taste and sensitivity, which will dominate Hampstead Heath and Kenwood. His threat that “it will cost Camden tax-payers a fortune if the scheme is dismissed” should be treated with the contempt that it deserves.
Flight Lieutenant Dan Marshall has described Caen Wood Towers (Athlone House) as a significant part of RAF and British military intelligence history. We will therefore support the Royal Air Force in every way if they wish to apply to have the house listed as the nationally important monument that it is.
We therefore expect nothing less than that Camden will now ensure that Mr Cooper and his clients fulfil their obligations.
We call on all those concerned about threats to the Heath to make their views known to Camden and to the local and national press.
Gordon Forbes,
Chairman, Highgate Society
Michael Hammerson,
Martin Humphery,
Marius Reynolds,
Jeremy Wright
for the Athlone House Working Group
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