I READ M. Coffey's recent correspondence with dismay, but not with surprise. I had intended to ignore the letter and treat it with the contempt it deserved, but, having seen the responses from Steve Garland and Alan Jackson in Monday night's paper, I now put pen to paper in their support.

I had the pleasure to be involved with the renovation of Hall i'th' Wood during 1995 in a voluntary capacity as an historian and was able to assist all the parties concerned: Alan Jackson, Project Architect for Buttress Fuller Alsop Williams, the main contractors William Anelay of York, Dr. John Gray (then Chief Museums Officer) and many others, too numerous to mention.

As is the norm with Grade I Listed Buildings, when work of this magnitude is being carried out, all kinds of monitoring takes place. Most importantly, regular visits occurred from representatives of English Heritage; all that I spoke to were impressed by the nature and standard of work carried out. Clearly, all the materials had to be those approved by English Heritage and I remember well, as must Alan Jackson, when the ceiling of the Brownlow Bedroom had to be replastered and it was impossible to obtain riven oak laths of the correct thickness (about a quarter of an inch, I seem to remember). The supplier, from Henley-on-Thames, could only provide riven chestnut of the specifications required in the time available. English Heritage HAD to be consulted and their approval sought, even though the average layman wouldn't know the difference (oak and chestnut look the same when riven, except for a small difference in density and the paler medullary rays found in English oak) and even though they are now hidden by plaster and therefore invisible.

What was the purpose of M Coffey's letter? If annoyance was the only reason, then, well done -- it has succeeded! If, however, the criticism is meant to be helpful then, sadly, there is failure in this quarter.

I was further dismayed that it had taken your correspondent over five years to notice the difference in the appearance of the new masonry from that of the original. This really will not do. Alan Jackson supervised the most meticulous restoration of a late medieval hall I have ever seen. I had the unique opportunity to visit the site throughout 1995 and take a series of slides to show the progress of the restoration -- some 4,000 in all -- covering all aspects of the project. You may see some of these in the Archives and Local Studies Section of the Central Library.

Derek R. Mills

Leighton Avenue,

Heaton, Bolton