Prince Charles' proposition
Prince Charles has again stepped into a development project by proposing the appointment of one of his favourite community architects – in preference to Modernists.
It is understood that American community architect Christopher Alexander is about to be commissioned for the £5m exhibition hall to house the Tudor ship, the Mary Rose.
The Queen Mother's shame
Only royal intervention has saved a Grade II listed church building in Hastings from falling into disrepair.
The 160-year-old St Mary in the Castle was only saved after the Queen Mother – who is patron of the Georgian Society – told town councillors it was a "shame" the building was neglected.
Shortly after the Royal interest was declared last summer, Maidstone-based contractor Cox Brothers was awarded a £1.2m contract by Hastings Borough Council to refurbish the church. Work is expected to be completed in March.
9 January 1981
Eiffel Tower to close for a year
One of Paris's greatest tourist attractions, the 91-year-old Eiffel Tower, is to close down for a year for building improvements. Restoration work on the 7500 ton structure includes the reinforcement of floors and the replacement of aging hydraulic lifts with modern electric models. The tower's first level will close within a week, but the second level will stay open, with the third re-opening in March.
12 January 1951
A new year plea
Sir – Every year at this season one receives from various and sundry firms in the building trade a multitude of calendars and diaries of which, but for a very small number, it is quite impossible to make use. Only a very small proportion of these calendars exhibit attractiveness; most of them are hideously ugly.
The yearly inundation shows no signs of abatement, and without wishing to appear ungracious, may I put in a plea to those concerned to stop what must surely be a stupid waste of material and labour? If firms must send one something, why not an attractive Christmas card? This at least would have the merit of standing a greater chance of being kept for reference purposes.
11 January 1851
New bridge at Battersea
During the last few days from twenty to thirty men have been busily employed in sawing timber and preparing piles to sink in the river, preparatory to beginning operations for the erection of the proposed and long-talked of suspension-bridge between Chelsea and Battersea.
