A Brief for John Betjeman

Writer and broadcaster John Betjeman was a strong campaigner for the protection of Victorian architecture and a well known British public figure. This briefing was composed by one of Wilton's earliest and strongest supporters, building surveyor and theatre historian John Earl. Earl prepared a history of Wilton's and notes on how to combat criticism at the critical London County Council meeting attended by Betjeman that would decide Wilton's fate. Betjeman's argument persuaded the LCC to protect Wilton's. The site came under the ownership of the Greater London Council (GLC) for which Earl later headed the Historic Buildings Division.