She-Wolf Romulus and Remus statue stolen in manor break-in
Four large bronze statues including a pair of fawns and a bust of Antinous, Emperor Hadrian's lover, were stolen from Iford Manor, Wiltshire, in the middle of its jazz festival.
Police have launched an investigation into the theft, which took place overnight on Thursday.
The She-Wolf statue has stood on the Great Terrace 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.
The statue also provided the backdrop for the 2020 adaptation of The Secret Garden with Hollywood actor Colin Firth.
William Cartwright-Hignett, the managing partner of Iford Manor Estate, told The Telegraph: 'My overwhelming sense is frustration and sadness, I'm angry on behalf of heritage and the place.
'This isn't just a theft from me and my wife, it is a theft from the manor and its culture.
'The She-Wolf statue is the essence of the whole garden. That is the thing that really galls me the most.'
Mr Cartwright-Hignett, who was in the middle of serving lunch to the 45 people who had come to support the Jazz Festival on Saturday, added: 'We feel we are the guardians of this place, as were my parents before me. I can't help but feel I've failed in my guardianship.
'When we took over in 2016, we wanted it to be a haven to escape the day-to-day riggers. When that place is violated, it makes it very difficult.'
He also speculated that the theft could not have been a two-person job because the statues are made from bronze.
'They have stolen these statues with the utmost care,' he added.
'If someone wants to put them in a layby and let us know, we'll come and pick them up.'
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.'
Police have urged the public to come forward if they witnessed any suspicious activity in the area between 10.45pm on Thursday and 8am on Friday.
Antique dealers and auction houses have also been advised to be vigilant.
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