C IRENCESTER CHURCH PORCH SIR, Deeply g rateful as are so many
of us to Mr. John Betjeman for his sturdy champion- shit) of our ancient buildings against their destroyers, may I correct a possible misappre- hension from his reference last week to the great Porch of Cirencester Church as entirely refaced'? With the exception of three new pinnacles at the angles, so decayed as to be dangerous, Yet essential to the outline of the building, there has been no insertion of new stone at any point; all that has been done to the ancient surface is to free it, by a gentle pro- cess of slow washing, from the acid-laden dirt which was eroding the stone; and then to bind the somewhat friable surface left after this cleansing by an application of limewash, which has proved successful for the purpose. It is this latter coat which, temporarily, is responsible for the sharp contrast in tone with the remainder of the building; but it has already darkened, and will shortly weather into full harmony. The ancient stonework has nowhere been replaced by new, while much of the carved detail has emerged much clearer than before.—Yours faithfully, W. I. CROOME
Barton Mill House, Cirencester, Glos
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