MADAM,

May I reply to the article about Troy house that only recently came to my attention.

I have been directly or indirectly involved with this magnificent building and can go back 70 years.

The house was once the seat of the Duke of Beaufort until circa 1900 and was sold to a Mr Arnott who sold it to the nuns in 1906.

During the 1980s, the owner applied to develop the house along the same lines and the latest application.

Back then, objections were over the inadequate entry into Troy Lane and the number of people living there.

I wanted to know what happened to the proposed new road that was the panacea to the access problem in the last application. I see with great trepidation that the ‘new’ road is no more, leaving the only exit via the original lane.

The state of the lane has its origins as a ‘party’ lane and neither the owner of Troy farm and the mansion are willing to upgrade it as it was done in 1962 by the Home Office who paid for it.

I read there is expected to be a flood from the nearby Troddi, serious enough to flood Troy itself to a depth of 200mm. What absolute tosh! The fact is Troy has never been flooded. I have witnessed severe flooding of the Troddi many times with the water spreading out into the ‘station field’.

Yes the grounds of Troy were flooded quite regularly when there were vast rainfalls, but these outfields were well below the ground floor of Troy and were never a problem.

The greatest test came in Sept 1978 when the greatest recorded flood, following five days downpour, occurred.

The garden, which I tended, was ground belonging to the nuns.

Up to 1955 it was composed of rough pasture and was then turned into a garden for the nuns. When does a garden acquire Grade II state given its short life.

I do know the walled garden which goes back to the 16th century is Grade II but a recent feature?

There may be confusion with the ancient vegetable garden located in the walled garden and now in private hands.

I am relieved this once magnificent building has at last been given the green light and the long overdue re-development can forge ahead, 25 years after the first application was sought.

The deterioration of this building is nothing short of a disgrace and rests fairly and squarely on the shoulders of the present owner who has allowed this dear old mansion to disintegrate and bring it to its metaphorical knees!

I must pay tribute to the people who ran Troy as a boys’ school.

They maintained the building with commendable effort despite the inevitable deteriorating condition. It was co-run by a Mr David who was driven out by the demands of the owner who wanted to put the rent for running the school from £30k to £80k.

Mike Tamplin

(Monmouth)