The Rev Paul Nicolson (Letters, 25 February) said truly affordable council housing was built on public land. The house my family moved into in 1954 was built on farmland. What enabled councils to build as they did was their ability to spread their borrowing, from the Public Works Loan Board, for up to 50 years. This enabled rents to be affordable as the interest due on the loans was spread over a longer period than with conventional mortgages.
Jenny Haynes
Horkstow, North Lincolnshire
• Since when did it become rightwing to admire beautiful, classically inspired buildings (When classical beauty is in the eye of the rightwing beholder, 29 February)? Surely any building that is pleasing to the eye can be admired by all of us, male or female, rich or poor? India Block’s article seems to be more to do with her views about the oppressions of the past than any considerations about the intrinsic architectural merits of older styles of building.
Marie Paterson
Nuneaton, Warwickshire
• I’ll see Maryrose Romer’s marmalade tea (Letters, 2 March) and raise her my wife’s marmalade gin. Empty a jar of marmalade into a container, add gin, cover and leave for a month or two, stirring occasionally. Not only does the gin then taste of marmalade, but the orange peel will have acquired a special flavour.
Peter Elliott
St Albans, Hertfordshire
• My favourite hymn at Sunday school in the 1950s was “Horses Bright and Beautiful” (Letters, 2 March).
Rita Gallard
Norwich
• During lunch with our granddaughters some years ago, the eldest informed us that her other grandad had “Power of a turnip”. Magic.
Val Brodie
Natland, Cumbria
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