Evening star., 1933-09-17
Architects to Mark Historic Shrines
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

the more important buildings will be
saved.
The work of the British Royal Com
mission on Historical Monuments fur
nishes an excellent model, although
proceeding on scale far more preten-
tious than anything undertaken here.
In 1908 King Edward VII created the
continued by King George. The present
chairman is the Earl of Crawford and
Balcarres, brother of Sir Ronald Lind
say, British ambassador at Washington.
Serving on the body are such special
lists as Sir Charles H. Read, president
of the Society of Antiquarians: j. G. N.
Cliff Of the British Archaeological Asso-
ciation and Leonard Stokes, past presl-
dent Of the Royal Institute OF British
Architects.
Already the commission has marked
for preservation hundreds OF buildings
Of historic and architectural interest.
To be sure. it has far more material to
deal with than a new country like the
United States. The Roman remains
have received attention, the early Saxon
churches and other structures down to
1700. AS the American undertaking Is
not including any building erected since
1850, so the British stop at 100. ANY,
thing built since 100 is too new.
Movement is Worldwide.
Several beautiful volumes have been
published by the Royal Commission,
giving the history and the most detailed
descriptions of the subjects together
with photographs and drawings The
Tower Of London, Westminster Abbey,
Westminster Palace. the Charterhouse,
Lambeth Palace, Kensington Palace.
and a great variety of churches. old
houses. inns. barns and every sort of
structure which has both historical
interest and architectural beauty has
been given painstaking attention. The
work goes on continuously, and when
the commission catches up to 100 the
date probably will be brought forward
to include the next century.
If building of historic or architec-
tural note is threatened with destruc-
tion the commission may buy it or
assist in its preservation. The late
Marques of Curzon upon his death be-
queathed valuable properties. including
the historic Tattersall Tower, to the
Royal Commission. Other owners OF
places of similar interest have done or
are expected to do likewise.
France also follows this course. Its
most remarkable exploit has been in
acquiring the entire city Of Carcassone
as national monument. Inc lie OIL
the city goes on. but not a stone can
be altered, not repair or even broken
window made, without permission OF
the government. Italy. too, now is
jealousy guarding its more precious
survivals of earlier days and Spain has
adopted a similar policy.
The American people, in character
istic fashion, are inclined to demolish
anything in the way Of real estate
development. The graceful colonial home
of Francis Scott Key, writer of THE
Star Spangled Banner" was swept into
the steam shovels to make room for q
bridge approach. 1t could have been
left just as we'll had any one been
enough interested to preserve it. The
rush Of American building is so great
that unless some one assumes the re-
sponsibility buildings of the first in
tereSt. historically and architecturally,
will be knocked down to make room for
gasoline stations or similar commercial
enterprises. The Government has shown
no interest, so the American Institute
of Architects has undertaken a task
in which it is being supported by all
Americans responsive to cultural in
f1uences.