BRITAIN'S OLD HOUSES

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20096, 27 November 1930, Page 4

BRITAIN'S OLD HOUSES

AMERICAN DEMAND. ATTEMPT TO CHECK EXPORT. I'or the first time an attempt will be made by the Government to restrict by law the removal from Britain oi 1 buildings of historic and national interest. A measure l'or this purpose is now in the -hands of Parliamentary draftsmen, and is expected to be introduced in the coming session.

The Bill is designee! to be an effective cheek upon the growing tendency 011 the parts-of wealthy foreigners, especially Americans, since the World War, to buy historic houses and other buildings and remove them piece by piece for re-erection, abroad.

; Not long ago a piece oif a fourteenth c.eiitury .England Cotswold cottage at Cbedworth was taken down and packed | into boxes. The dismembered cottage, j weighing .475 tons, was placed aboard a .train: of sixty-seven ears- and. then shipped to America. The Earl of I'owis' old half-timbered house at Lymore, near Montgomery, built about 1670, without, any alterations or additions, was scheduled act an ancient monument by the Office of Works, but the Bafl'a offer to the nation had to be refused because of a lack of funds for adequate* maintenance. The house was auctioned and was purchased by an antique dealfer, who said much of the valuable oak pannelling and the fine staircase tvould go to America. Meanwhile, in spite ol' tLe pi«>po.3»J legislation, an Englishwoman. Mta Amy Adams, has announced she is going to America iot the sole purpose of aelling ■old "English cottages to Americans. She said'she already. had bought a Hertfordshire .cottage for shipment to America neit' year. . . :• "Since the desire for old cottages has grown in America," she added, "I am going to buy and sell 'them." When a building of historical or national interest comes under the provisions of the proposed Bill, it will, be illegal for the structure to removed not 'only out of England, but from its existing site, It is also expected that a check will be placed bn stripping stieh buildings of their "fittings.

you nnvthirv to eeil —L>o jou wish to buy? If bo, a small advertisemcnt in the classified section of The Pr.26s will t>© all you need. 12 words la, thre« insertions 2s 6cL i—g