Man held over theft of Mary Queen of Scots’ rosary beads
POLICE are digging an area of wasteland in a search for £1million of historical artefacts stolen from Arundel Castle as a man has been arrested in connection with the burglary.
Treasures including a set of “irreplaceable” gold rosary beads that Mary Queen of Scots carried to her execution in 1587 were stolen in the raid in West Sussex in May.
Coronation cups given by Mary to the Earl Marshal were also taken, as well as other gold and silver items.
Police announced that a 45-year-old man was arrested at a traveller site in Eckington, Worcestershire, yesterday morning and remains in custody.
Officers conducted eight warrants at addresses in Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.
Six other men were also arrested and are being interviewed by officers from Gloucestershire and West Mercia in relation to alleged burglary, assault and drugs offences, all unrelated to the castle break-in, Sussex Police said.
Officers were seen digging at a location in Oxfordshire yesterday.
A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “A site at Alverscot, near Carterton in Oxfordshire, is one of the eight sites we are currently searching as part of this operation. None of the items from the castle burglary have been found there at this stage.”
Det Insp Alan Pack, of Sussex Police, said: “Our investigation into the Arundel Castle burglary remains live and this action marks a significant step in our enquiries.
“I would encourage anyone with further information about this burglary to contact us and also remind people that the insurers have offered a substantial reward should any of the property be recovered intact. You can also contact us either online or by calling 101, quoting Operation Deuce.”
The collection consisted of Mary’s rosary, seven gold and silver-gilt coronation cups, a gold Earl Marshal’s baton, and other items including 10 silver-gilt apostle spoons.
At the time of the burglary, a Sussex Police spokesman said: “The rosary is of little intrinsic value as metal, but as a piece of the Howard family history and the nation’s heritage it is irreplaceable.”
Staff were alerted to the break-in at 10.30pm on May 21 after a burglar alarm went off. A 4x4 saloon car was later found burnt out and abandoned.
A spokesman for Arundel Castle said at the time: “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.”