National Trust announces happy conclusion to ‘heritage crime’ of theft from Kingston Lacy
Four 19th-century bronze tortoises stolen from a historic mansion nearly 30 years ago have, in an appropriately slow way, been recovered and returned to their rightful home.
The National Trust on Wednesday announced a happy conclusion to a heritage crime case that shines light on the fascinating life of William John Bankes, a collector and adventurer who fled England because of sexual relations with guardsmen and a man once described by his friend Lord Byron as the “father of all mischief”.