'Irreplaceable' historic gold worth £1 million stolen from Arundel Castle
Video report from ITV News Meridian's James Dunham
Police are seeking thieves who broke into Arundel Castle and stole gold and silver items worth in excess of £1 million.
Castle staff were alerted at 10.30pm on Friday evening when a burglar alarm sounded. Police were on the scene within minutes.
Various items have been stolen of great historical significance.
These include the Gold Rosary Beads carried by Mary Queen of Scots at her execution in 1587, several coronation cups given by the Sovereign to the Earl Marshal of the day, and other gold and silver treasures.
The rosary is of little intrinsic value as metal, but as piece of the Howard family history and the nation’s heritage it is irreplaceable.
The items were taken by force from a display cabinet along the public route. A photo shows the cabinet and contents as they were just a few days before the burglary, so that some of the items shown were not amongst those stolen.
A spokesman for Arundel Castle Trustees said; “The stolen items have significant monetary value, but as unique artefacts of the Duke of Norfolk’s collection have immeasurably greater and priceless historical importance. We therefore urge anyone with information to come forward to the police to assist them in returning these treasures back where they belong.”
Police are examining a 4x4 saloon which was found abandoned and on fire in nearby Barlavington a short while later, to establish whether it is connected to the burglary.
Detective Constable Molly O'Malley of Chichester CID said; "If you were in Arundel on Friday evening and saw any suspicious activity around the area of the Castle, please contact us either online or by calling 101, quoting Operation Deuce.
"In addition, the castle only re-opened to visitors on Tuesday 18 May so if you were visiting during the past few days do you on reflection recall anyone behaving at all suspiciously?
"If you are offered or hear of anyone offering for sale any of the items stolen, we would also like to hear from you.
Historian and Professor at University of Reading, Kate Williams, say's the reason why the rosary beads are kept at Arundel Castle is because the castle is owned by the Duke of Norfolk. During the time of Mary Queen of Scots, the then Duke of Norfolk tried to marry the Queen and the family were supporters of her. They then inherited the beads and kept them in the castle.
Kate Williams, Historian
She hope's the beads have been stolen by a collector so that they could be resurfaced one day.