Sir, Surely Charles Holcombe (letters, Oct 11) does not believe that there is a working letterbox cut into the door of No 10 Downing Street, allowing bombs or guns to be poked through into the hall? Or that the steel-lined and blast-proof door is made entirely of timber? As a conservationist he should be pleased that, unlike every other front door, it is not disfigured by a keyhole.

Joshua Rozenberg

London W12

Sir, I disagree that the positioning of the letter plate in the muntin (the vertical rail) weakens the door. Letter plates were added to front doors after the introduction of pre paid postage stamps in 1840, as the recipient no longer had to pay a fee to the messenger. They were usually mounted on the lock rail (the central horizontal rail), but could also be mounted vertically on the muntin – the exact positioning was down to individual taste. They should not be installed on the door panels.

I would have said the main problem with 10 Downing Street’s letter plate is that it is placed horizontally, rather than vertically, on the muntin. This gives a clumsy appearance to the door, and disturbs the balance of an otherwise fine example of a door and doorcase.

Angela Cooke

Nottingham

Explore Letters

• Feedback