Latest news with #WilliamCartwrightHignett
BBC News
28-06-2025
- BBC News
Two men arrested after bronze statues stolen from Iford Manor
Two men have been arrested after four bronze statues were stolen from the grounds of a manor, police have said. Wiltshire Police said the large art pieces were taken from Iford Manor near Bradford on Avon on 19 February where a Jazz festival was taking place.A statue of She-Wolf with Romulus and Remus, including the plinth, two Roman deer and a bust of Antinous were stolen from the property, officers said.A 31-year-old and a 39-year-old were arrested in Bristol on Thursday evening and released under conditional bail not to re-enter the county. Managing partner at the estate, William Cartwright-Hignett, previously told the BBC he was "frustrated and angry" the garden had been targeted and "violated" in such a way. Det Insp Penny Andrews said: "We are continuing to appeal for anyone knows anything about the stolen items or who saw anything suspicious leading up to the incident to come forward with information."No matter how insignificant you may think the information may be, it could be vital to assist our ongoing investigation."We would also urge any antique dealers or auction houses to look out for the items."She urged the public to report any information which might aid their investigation, and thanked colleagues in Avon and Somerset Police for their help in apprehending the suspects.
Daily Mail
23-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Fury as four bronze Roman statues are stolen from historic manor in brazen overnight raid as owner brands theft an 'affront to heritage'
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.
Times
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
‘Irreplaceable' bronze statues stolen during manor house festival
It was the first day of the summer jazz festival at Iford Manor. The sun beamed on the blooming gardens and the sound of a saxophone filled the air but the contentment was about to come to an abrupt end. On Friday morning, the owners of the country estate near Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, woke to discover that four bronze sculptures had been taken from the grade I listed gardens overnight. Among the missing pieces was a copy of Rome's Capitoline Wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, including its plinth, which had been in the gardens for 120 years, a pair of symmetrical bronze fawns inspired by those at the ancient Villa dei Papyri in Herculaneum, and a bust of Antinous. Marianne Cartwright-Hignett, 42, who runs the estate with her husband William, also 42, said: 'The policeman asked for a victim statement and I said, 'well, you know, it's not my statue'. And he said, 'oh, who owns it?' I said, 'no, no, no, this is everyone's loss'. This is a huge loss.' The garden, which has been open to the public since about 1910, receives about 20,000 visitors during the six months of the year it is open. Cartwright-Hignett said: 'It feels a million miles away from everywhere. When you go into the garden, you're not sure which country you're in, you're not sure which century you're in. There's a cloister at the back which has a line from a Tennyson poem. The inscribed line says 'a haunt of ancient peace'. 'It's a really tranquil, healing space … it feels like someone's just ripped the soul out of the garden.' After she posted the news on Instagram, the BBC gardening presenter Monty Don replied to say he was 'very sorry and angry'. Cartwright-Hignett, who lives on the estate with her husband and two sons, Horatio, six and Freddie, three, added: 'Gardeners' World have been here a couple of times in the past and Monty Don did a lovely episode of his series of Big Dreams, Small Spaces here.' Wiltshire police are investigating, and asking antique dealers and auction houses to be on alert for the stolen pieces. Cartwright-Hignett is particularly keen to see the Romulus and Remus statue returned. She said: 'That's kind of irreplaceable. The curator of the Capitoline at the time, in the late 1800s, let the estate owner take a direct copy from the original. We believe it's the last time a direct copy was allowed to be taken. Ironically, it was here for safe keeping in case the one in the Capitoline ever got lost or stolen.' She added: 'My dearest hope is that no one's stupid enough to melt it down. I just hate the thought of this being in someone's private garden where one person gets to see it.' In 2011 a Henry Moore sculpture worth £3 million was stolen from his foundation in Hertfordshire. It was later believed to have been melted down. Earlier this year a bronze statue worth £60,000 was stolen from the home of the artist Anne Curry in Essex. A 17th-century 'Shepherd Boy' statue was stolen from an outbuilding in Pickering, Yorkshire, last year — it still hasn't been found — and in March two men were sentenced for damaging and stealing a Paddington Bear statue in Newbury in Berkshire.
Telegraph
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
She-Wolf Romulus and Remus statue stolen in manor break-in
Thieves have stolen a large statue of She-Wolf with Romulus and Remus from a manor house following a 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.
BBC News
21-06-2025
- BBC News
Iford Manor 'devastated' by mystery bronze statue theft
The owners of a manor say they woke up to "devastation" and "mystery" after four large, bronze statues were stolen from the grounds art pieces were reportedly taken from Iford Manor, where a Jazz festival is taking place, on Thursday Partner at Iford Manor Estate William Cartwright-Hignett said he is "frustrated and angry" that the garden, which is a safe space for the public, was targeted and "violated" in such a Police said enquiries into the incident are ongoing. A statue of She-Wolf with Romulus and Remus, including the plinth, two Roman deer and a bust of Antinous were stolen from the property, police She-wolf bronze had stood on the grounds for more than 120 years."My overwhelming sense is frustration and sadness, I'm angry on behalf of heritage and the place," he said."They're iconic pieces, they make the space what it is - they were an important element of what we're about. "It's a garden of cultural significance with a focus on tranquillity and being a safe space for people - it now feels violated." Mr Cartwright-Hignett said it is a "mystery" how the heavy statues were removed overnight."We were right in the middle of our Jazz festival - It's not a two man lift. "We wrapped up and closed everything up, went to bed and woke up to a disaster."The Jazz festival was unbelievable last night and it will be today - the show must go on."In the meantime, we hope that some right thinking people have a conscience and will restore them to their rightful owners," he have asked for any witnesses who may have information on activity on th e grounds between 22:45 BST on Thursday and 8:00 BST am on have also urged for any antique dealers or auction houses to look out for the items.
