Thieves broke into Grade II star-listed Ilford Manor in an overnight raid last Friday, where four classic statues, some of which had stood in the grounds for more than a century, were taken
Two men have been arrested following the theft of four statues from a country house garden last Friday (June 20), with police urging antiques dealers to be on the lookout for some historic stolen goods.
The Grade I-listed Ilford Manor, near Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, was targeted in an overnight raid. Four replica classic statues, some of which have been situated in the grounds for over a century, were stolen.
Avon and Somerset officers revealed that a car with a police marker was pulled over in the Bristol area on Thursday evening. A 31-year-old and a 39-year-old were subsequently arrested.
Both men, who reside outside of Wiltshire, have been released on conditional bail with orders not to enter the county.
READ MORE: Body of man found in River Tees after police get shock callREAD MORE: Witnesses will ‘never forget the screams’ as girl, 7, killed by tree in Chalkwell Park
Ilford Manor, owned by William and Marianne Cartwright-Hignett, boasts gardens open to the public. The loss of their copy of the Capitoline She-Wolf has been particularly felt, reports Bristol Live.
This bronze statue, which has “overlooked the valley for over 120 years”, portrays a scene from the legend of the founding of Rome and was at the “heart” of the estate’s peaceful setting.
A pair of symmetrical fawns, replicas of the Villa Dei Papyri fawns, and a bust of Antinous were also tkaen.
At the time of the theft, the estate – which has served as a filming location for the Secret Garden and ITV’s Sanditon – was hosting a five-day jazz festival.
In a statement published on their website, the estate said it was “still reeling from the theft”. “This is a cultural loss for all of us,” it added.
“The gardens here have welcomed visitors since 1910 and now have 20,000 visitors from April to September who enjoy the tranquil and beautiful setting, of which the She-Wolf was the heart and in a setting made to showcase the statue.
“We would love to see the statues returned to their rightful place for everyone to continue to enjoy for centuries to come.”
William Cartwright-Hignett, the managing partner of Iford Manor Estate, said at the time of the theft: ‘We spent our whole lives and existences with our team trying to maintain, preserve and enhance this beautiful place for the benefit of all of our visitors and future visitors for the heritage.
“It is devastating to see such iconic pieces which are very important to the design of the garden being stolen away in the night.”
According to Detective Inspector Penny Andrews: “We are continuing to appeal for anyone who knows anything about the stolen items or who saw anything suspicious leading up to the incident to come forward with information.”
She added that even the smallest detail could prove crucial: “No matter how insignificant you may think the information may be, it could be vital to assist our ongoing investigation.”
The police are also urging anyone working in antiques or auction houses to be vigilant for the stolen goods.