 Counterproposals to prevent this, either by repurchasing the property by public subscription or by appealing for public purchase by the Metropolitan Board of Works, both failed, largely owing to the exorbitant price – said to be well over £70,000 – demanded by the new freeholder.However, it transpired that the ground-leases of the row of detached and semi-detached residences called Ravenscourt Park, extending southwards from No.23, contained a proviso giving ground-tenants the right to forbid any building on the width of the park opposite their frontages.