Thieves steal £10,000 statue of Lord Byron from stately home in Kent

Police said it would have taken several people to move the 'extremely heavy' statue

The statue of Lord Byron was stolen from Godmersham Park on 20 April (Kent Police)

Thieves have stolen a statue of one of Britain’s greatest poets in a night-time raid on the grounds of a stately home.

The solid marble statue depicting Lord Byron as a child disappeared overnight on Tuesday from Godmersham Park in Kent.

Kent Police are appealing for the return of the figure, which shows the famed writer reading a book as he reclines against a post, next to a cricket bat.

The statue of Lord Byron was stolen from Godmersham Park on Wednesday, 20 April 2016. (Kent Police)

“The 4ft tall solid marble statue of Lord Byron was stolen from Godmersham Park between midnight and 5am on Wednesday, 20 April 2016,” a spokesperson said.

“The statue is extremely heavy and would have required a number of people to manoeuvre it. It is valued at £10,000.”

Godmersham Park houses a stately home built in the 1700s that was once the property of Jane Austen’s brother and is believed to be the setting of her novel Mansfield Park.

It is now owned privately but a public path runs through part of the estate, which also houses a heritage centre.

The history of the statue of Lord Byron, who died in 1824, is unknown. The poet, famously described by one contemporary as “mad, bad and dangerous to know”, attended Harrow and Cambridge before embarking on famed tours of Europe and writing works including "Don Juan".

Anyone with information is asked to call Kent Police on 01843 222289 or phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, quoting reference ZY/012828/16.