Save our Historical Jewel (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Save our Historical Jewel

10:15am Tuesday 9th February 2010

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IT’S hard to understand how such a significant historical jewel as St Osyth Priory came to fall into the hands of a private property developer, yet it did and no amount of hand-wringing will reverse a sale that was inevitably going to lead to the defilement of this beautiful estate. Anyone celebrating its potential as a wedding/conference centre grossly misunderstands its value to the nation.

Quite frankly, the offer to accept holiday cabins in exchange for a promise of restoration offers no choice for those who care for the Priory and this unique village which has already lamented the demolition of its wonderful old tidal mill back in the 1960s.

One must hope that the local authority, with English Heritage and possibly The National Trust, has the wisdom and foresight to appreciate this threat to the most valuable historical asset in the area and galvanise a campaign to bring it into national ownership where it can be properly cared for.

Andrew Hayward.

Epsom.

Surrey.

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