Sir. The expressed intent to restore the fire-ruined Uppark house in Sussex surprises me. In these days of outrage at development of green-field sites, let alone a prominent one on Sussex Downs is an ideal opportunity to demolish altogether and to return the site to nature In their assaults on vast acres of our countryside, were the yuppies of the 17th century different? Why should we allow time to confer legitimacy on their depredations (David Martin, Conservative MP Times, 6 September 1989)
Sir. If the National Trust fails to rebuild Uppark, that dreamlike William and Mary house which has been tragically gutted by fire, it will lose much of its credibility as a guardian of the Nation's Heritage (Mark Bence-Jones, Daily Telegraph, 7 September 1989)