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Messrs Aston Webb & E. Ingress Bell to Crown Agents.
19 Queen Anne's Gate S.W.
1st August 1906.
We have considered the proposal to use the intended Library as a third court and it appears to be a desirable course in view of the probable need of an additional court within a few years.
We are however doubtful whether it would be wise to divide the Library Block horizontally. The Court would be only 19 ft. high and could only be lighted along one side and these windows would be under a colonnade and the ventilation would be imperfect.
Moreover the Library if placed over the Court would not be in a good position or easily got at.
We would submit that it would be better to use the whole block for a 3rd court which would then be a companion to the present small court. It is true that the Library under such an arrangement would disappear altogether but it may be possible in consultation with the Law Officers to rearrange the Centre Block which is now devoted to their use in such a way as to provide a sufficient library on either the 1st or 2nd floor.
If you wish us to prepare plans in illustration of this view we will do so without delay.
(Intld.) A.W. & E.I.B.