Staff at the historic Croome museum in Worcester were left in dismay after a historic statue was defaced with blue crayon markings on 8 April.
The Sabrina statue, which is a memorial to landscape architect Capability Brown, was targeted along with the Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown Memorial, according to the National Trust.
The Sabrina statue is carved from Coade stone and is believed to have been made in 1802. It depicts the Roman Naiade, Sabrina, in a grotto that was once decorated with shells, coral, and gems.
The National Trust
The bright blue crayon markings were scrawled across the face, arms, and torso of the statue. Fortunately, the markings have been removed, but work is still ongoing to clean the memorial.
“We are dismayed that this has happened,” said a spokesperson for the National Trust.
“Disappointing as they are, incidents like this are very rare considering the millions of visitors who enjoy and respect the places in our care.”
The National Trust
Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown was an English landscape architect, who designed more than 170 parks and estates. The memorial to him is being cleaned after it was also defaced. Brown’s work at Croome was his first large commission, and he later went on to design landscapes for the likes of Blenheim Palace and Warwick Castle.
It is not known who defaced the statues, and investigations are ongoing. However, the National Trust has reminded visitors to respect the historical significance of the museum and to report any suspicious behaviour to staff.
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Feature Image: The National Trust
