Two men arrested after statues stolen from country mansion in overnight raid

Two men have been apprehended following the theft of four statues from a country house garden last Friday (June 20). The culprits infiltrated Ilford Manor, a Grade I-listed property near Bradford-on-Avon, in an overnight raid and made off with four replica classic statues, some of which had graced the grounds for over a century.

Avon and Somerset officers halted a vehicle with a police marker in the Bristol area on Thursday evening, leading to the arrest of a 31-year-old and a 39-year-old.

Both individuals, who do not live in Wiltshire, have been released under conditional bail prohibiting them from entering the county.

The Manor, owned by William and Marianne Cartwright-Hignett, opens its gardens to the public and expressed particular sorrow over the loss of their copy of the Capitoline She-Wolf. 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 serene setting.

A pair of symmetrical fawns, replicas of the Villa Dei Papyri fawns, and a bust of Antinous were also stolen, reports Bristol Live. 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."

Detective Inspector Penny Andrews stated: "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.

"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."