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26
On the 18th August the Vestry received the
following letter from Captain Penton on the
subject.
House of Commons' Library,
12th August, 1887.
My Dear Sir,
I enclose you a copy of the answer received by me to a question
which I put in the House of Commons to the Postmaster-General,
asking whether his department had any intention of purchasing any
portion of the disused Clerkenwell Prison site (Coldbath Fields),
and if so how much space would be required for the buildings
proposed to be erected thereon. Also the answers to two questions
which I put privately to Sir Richard Temple, the Vice-Chairman of
the School Board for London, on the same subject. The answers to
these questions speak for themselves. I have therefore only to add
that at an interview with Mr. Jackson, the Secretary to the
Treasury, I elicited that the Treasury would be glad to receive from
the Vestry of Clerkenwell any representation which that body
might wish to make as to wishes of the inhabitants of the Parish as
to the disposal of the land, in regard to such matters as the widening
of Farringdon Road, &c., &c.
Will you kindly draw the attention of the Vestry to this matter,
and oblige,
Faithfully yours,
FREDK. T. PENTON.
To R. Paget, Esq.
Copied from the Times Parliamentary Debates, July 29th, 1887.
COLDBATH FIELDS PRISON SITE.
In answer to Captain Penton, Mr. Raikes said, " considering how
desirable it is to obtain a large area for Post Office work towards the
northern railway termini, I have been in communication with the
Treasury with a view of obtaining part of the site of Coldbath Fields
Prison, and although the matter is not yet settled, I hope that at
least half will be appropriated to that purpose."
Answer given to the two questions asked by Captain Penton of
Sir Richard Temple.
Whether the London School Board propose to erect Schools on
each of the two disused Clerkenwell Prison Sites?—Yes.
If so, what space of ground each school will occupy ?
House of Detention.—The whole of this site (about 1| acres) has
practically been purchased, and promises have been given that if any
portion of it is not required for the purposes of the School it will be
used for Artizane' Dwellings.