Historic items stolen from National Trust property

"Treasured" historic items have been stolen from a 16th Century National Trust property.

Objects including a silver dining room table centrepiece, a pair of French Empire candelabra and several items of porcelain were taken from Montacute House near Yeovil, Somerset, on 22 October at about 23:00 GMT, police said.

Keri Phillips, from the National Trust, said: "This has been a very upsetting incident for our staff and volunteers."

Dave Pepper, Avon and Somerset Police investigating officer, said entry had been forced to gain access to the property, adding: "The stolen items are historic and we are keen to help reunite the National Trust with them."

Ms Phillips said: "The items stolen were a treasured part of the collection, in particular the epergne which is of exceptional significance having been commissioned by Edward Phelips, one of the owners of Montacute House, in the 18th Century.

"The National Trust takes such incidents extremely seriously and continually reviews security arrangements at our sites, working closely with local police forces."

Police said officers had studied CCTV and spoken to people living near the property, and appealed for anyone with information about the stolen items to get in touch.

According to the National Trust website, construction of Montacute House was completed in 1601 and its former owner, Edward Phelips, played a key part in the prosecution against Guy Fawkes and his fellow gunpowder plot collaborators.

The Elizabethan mansion has featured in many film and tv adaptations of novels including Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility and Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall.

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