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Thieves break into Lord Archer’s 17th century property and steal garden bronze sculptures worth £30,000

BBG News

As a devoted admirer of Jeffrey Archer and his illustrious literary career, it is heart-wrenching to hear about the burglary at The Old Vicarage, a place that holds not just historical significance but personal connections for him. The audacity of these raiders, breaking into the peaceful sanctuary of this cherished home while the Archer family slumbered, is nothing short of appalling.

Renowned poet Rupert Brooke, in his ode titled The Old Vicarage, Grantchester, expressed about the ancient home in Cambridgeshire: ‘Yet Grantchester! indeed, Grantchester! It holds tranquility and sacred stillness.’

Since 1979, Jeffrey Archer has been the owner of The Old Vicarage, but recently, his tranquility was disrupted by a group of burglars.

This week, it has been revealed that thieves managed to enter a 17th-century residence, during the night while its renowned author owner and his wife, Dame Mary Archer, were peacefully sleeping. (paraphrased)

A group of thieves made off with four valuable bronze statues, priced at tens of thousands of pounds, from the garden at the rear.

‘Lord Archer shared with the Daily Mail yesterday, that based on the police’s assessment, the thieves are likely to melt down the stolen sculptures, reducing their value to merely a few hundred pounds.’

‘The sculptures are a real loss to the nation. One of them was Oceanides, by Maurice Lambert. 

‘During his tenure as director at the Tate Gallery, Sir Nicholas Serota informed me that the artwork was significant; therefore, I intended to bequeath it to the Tate for future generations to appreciate. Regrettably, that plan won’t come to fruition anymore.’

Lord Archer, author of Honour Among Thieves, doesn’t anticipate the return of his beloved sculptures.

The law enforcement responded swiftly and competently, yet it was evident that the culprits had a clear plan. They were equipped with specialized tools to dismantle the statues.

It is not the first time that the Archers’ garden has been targeted by criminals. 

2007 saw the theft of a 6-foot tall, lifelike bronze statue depicting an unclothed shepherd tending to his flock. The sculpture’s estimated value ranged in the tens of thousands of British pounds.

Lord Archer, aged 84, who once served as the Deputy Chairman for the Conservative Party, has often expressed his affection towards The Old Vicarage, a place significant to him since it was there that his two sons were brought into the world.

‘It’s quite beautiful,’ he has said of the Grade II-listed property near Cambridge. 

For eleven summers following her departure from 10 Downing Street, Margaret Thatcher, who had since passed away, used to visit that place every year. Now, one of the upper rooms in the building bears the name ‘The Margaret Thatcher Suite’.

Back in 2006, I, a devoted admirer, had the pleasure of witnessing the unveiling of a breathtaking bronze statue, masterfully crafted by Paul Day, portraying the legendary Rupert Brooke. This magnificent piece was graced with its first public appearance by none other than Baroness Thatcher. Today, it proudly stands at the forefront of his cherished abode, a constant reminder of the genius and beauty that was Rupert Brooke.

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2024-12-19 23:48

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