286 OLD WEST SURREY 



very much in the way. Perhaps it is not exactly beauti- 

 ful, but its slender- pillared little clock-tower and copper- 

 sheathed cupola are distinctly good, and I believe it to be the 

 latest building in Godalming that has that precious quality 

 of character — a thing that can scarcely be defined, but that is 

 most clearly perceptible to all who have sympathy with the 

 history of the place as shown in its architectural expression. 



The removal of this landmark of the early days of the 

 nineteenth century would be a grievous injury to the town. 



It is very easy to see the question from the other 

 point of view, but this view can only be entertained by 

 those who are not, either by education or by such God- 

 given aptitude or insight, fostered by certain other lines 

 of education, quite in a position to form a critical judgment 

 in the matter. 



Even from the point of view of commercial convenience 

 and well-being it would be well if there could be some 

 strict censorship exercised in the matter of the removal or 

 rebuilding of houses in such conspicuous positions as the 

 streets of country towns. 



I venture to affirm that the possession of beautiful old 

 houses, and of buildings not perhaps beautiful, but of 

 distinct architectural interest, is an important asset, even 

 from the commercial point of view, of such a town as 

 Godalming. They attract more people of a good class to 

 the town than many of those who contemn them may be 

 aware of. If Godalming is ill-advised enough to destroy 

 the Town Hall, or others of its interesting buildings, or to 

 overload the street with architectural monstrosities so much 

 out of scale that its good old houses are dwarfed and 

 overpowered, the day will come when people of the better 

 sort will say : ' Oh, Godalming is spoilt ; we will go some- 

 where else.' 



