The owners of a historic manor house have been left devastated after a gang of thieves broke in and stole four valuable bronze statues in a brazen overnight raid.
A large statue of She-Wolf with Romulus and Remus, including the plinth, two Roman fawns and a bust of Antinous were plundered from Iford Manor, Wiltshire, in the middle of its jazz festival.
Police have launched an urgent investigation after the four replica classic statues – some of which had stood in the grounds for more than a century – were taken from the manor’s gardens in the early hours of Friday morning.
The She-Wolf bronze statue had stood in the grounds for more than 120 years, after it was cast from the original for Harold Peto – the Edwardian architect and garden designer whose family acquired the manor in 1899.
A pair of symmetrical fawns, copies of the originals at the ancient Roman Villa Dei Papyri, and a bust of Antinous – Emperor Hadrian’s Greek lover who was deified after his death in Egypt – were also stolen.
William Cartwright-Hignett, the managing partner of Iford Manor Estate, said he is ‘devastated’, adding that the theft is an ‘affront to heritage’.
He said: ‘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.
‘This is an assault on everybody – everybody loves Iford. They come here they enjoy the tranquility, the peacefulness and the atmosphere and it is the unique combination of statuary, design and plating and setting that makes Iford special.
‘If they [statues] end up in a lay-by I will come and collect them.’
Mr Cartwright-Hignett said it is a ‘mystery’ how the heavy statues were removed overnight.
He said: ‘It is a disaster to lose that piece for Iford.
‘We are just guardians of this place in the next generation.
‘It has been a bad week.’
Raising awareness on Instagram, the Iford Manor account said: ‘Tragically this morning we woke up to discover that certain statues within the garden including our iconic She-Wolf with Romulus and Remus have been stolen in the night in the early hours of Friday morning in the middle of our jazz festival.
‘We would urge anyone with any information to please contact the police, crime stoppers, or ourselves to try to return these iconic pieces to their homes where they belong.’
Any antique dealers or auction houses have also been alerted to look out for the items.
A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: ‘We have launched an investigation after several statues were stolen from Ilford Manor, near Bradford-on-Avon.
‘Sometime from Thursday night (June 19) into Friday morning, unknown suspects have broken into the property and stolen a number of items.
‘Our enquiries into the incident are ongoing.
‘If you witnessed any suspicious activity in the area between 10.45pm on Thursday evening and 8am on Friday morning, or if you have any information on the whereabouts of the items, please contact us.
‘We would also urge any antique dealers or auction houses to look out for the items.
‘You can leave information on 101 quoting reference 54250075348, or anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.’
The Iford Manor is currently nominated for the Christies’ Historic Houses Garden of the Year Award.
