Persistent rain today marred what should have been a great opportunity to examine the exterior of this impressive stately home in the depths of the English countryside.
We did, however, enjoy a guided tour of the interior. One of the details which captured my imagination, was the story of the statue missing from this plinth in the courtyard.
The Pocket 2 and I braved the downpour just long enough to capture an image.

Not EH, I'm pretty sure...

Depp Posted at 10-12 03:34
Not EH, I'm pretty sure...

Nor NT either.  Charitable Trust.

Impressive capture Mr. B.  It's a real shame the weather didn't cooperate so you could get a few exterior shots of the building.  The big question is what happened to the statue?

DowntownRDB Posted at 10-12 14:17
Impressive capture Mr. B.  It's a real shame the weather didn't cooperate so you could get a few exterior shots of the building.  The big question is what happened to the statue?

Well, funny you should ask
You could apply yourself to this one RDB, as it has a connection with our Colonial Cousins.
Time to get your thinking cap on.

Blériot53 Posted at 10-12 20:40
Well, funny you should ask
You could apply yourself to this one RDB, as it has a connection with our Colonial Cousins.
Time to get your thinking cap on.

Did a little goggling and it appears there are many plinths without a statue on them now in the UK. Guess I need to continue to do some more detective work on this.   

DowntownRDB Posted at 10-13 02:40
Did a little goggling and it appears there are many plinths without a statue on them now in the UK. Guess I need to continue to do some more detective work on this.

What does CT say to you?  
There's a little hint.

A mystery indeed. I have no idea what happened to the statue. Sadly, we recently had somebody steal a statue and damage another one at Tampere. It is believed it was done to sell it as scrap metal later on.

HGDC84 Posted at 10-15 11:21
A mystery indeed. I have no idea what happened to the statue. Sadly, we recently had somebody steal a statue and damage another one at Tampere. It is believed it was done to sell it as scrap metal later on.

That's a particularly miserable crime, just to make a bit of money

This one from the pedestal was actually sold by the owners of the stately home, to an American Oil billionaire.  It's now in a museum somewhere in the USA.

Blériot53 Posted at 10-15 11:56
That's a particularly miserable crime, just to make a bit of money

This one from the pedestal was actually sold by the owners of the stately home, to an American Oil billionaire.  It's now in a museum somewhere in the USA.

It is sad when cultural heritage is sacrificed to the gods of mammon

The way the statue changed hands on the case you told about is a bit eyebrow-rising, too, but at least good to hear if it's somewhere on a public display for people to enjoy. And, at least, no crime as involved in the case.

HGDC84 Posted at 10-15 12:13
It is sad when cultural heritage is sacrificed to the gods of mammon

The way the statue changed hands on the case you told about is a bit eyebrow-rising, too, but at least good to hear if it's somewhere on a public display for people to enjoy. And, at least, no crime as involved in the case.

The money raised from the sale was used in the restoration of the stately home - so it was a good transaction.

Blériot53 Posted at 10-15 12:15
The money raised from the sale was used in the restoration of the stately home - so it was a good transaction.

Okay, that gives some more perspective to it, and in this case, seems to make the sale more acceptable.

HGDC84 Posted at 10-15 12:24
Okay, that gives some more perspective to it, and in this case, seems to make the sale more acceptable.

Yep

Unforetunately, Here in America, when people don't like the Hitory thay tear the statues down.

BetterBizTech Posted at 10-15 14:32
Unforetunately, Here in America, when people don't like the Hitory thay tear the statues down.

If I remember correctly what the guide told me, the statue is of William of Orange, and now resides in a museum in Connecticut. Maybe the Yale Museum of British Art ?

Blériot53 Posted at 10-15 22:20
If I remember correctly what the guide told me, the statue is of William of Orange, and now resides in a museum in Connecticut. Maybe the Yale Museum of British Art ?

Well, That's a relief. At least it's still around.

BetterBizTech Posted at 10-16 04:29
Well, That's a relief. At least it's still around.

If I'm not mistaken

No idea, but it must have been something big right?

Montfrooij Posted at 11-30 01:56
No idea, but it must have been something big right?

There used to be a statue of William of Orange on the pedestal
That should mean something to you

Blériot53 Posted at 11-30 08:11
There used to be a statue of William of Orange on the pedestal
That should mean something to you

Oh yes. He was a big man for NL

Montfrooij Posted at 11-30 10:13
Oh yes. He was a big man for NL

https://www.hoghtontower.co.uk/explore/history-of-hoghton/

Blériot53 Posted at 11-30 10:46
https://www.hoghtontower.co.uk/explore/history-of-hoghton/

That is a long history!

Montfrooij Posted at 11-30 12:53
That is a long history!

We took a day-trip there several months ago.  Very interesting.

Blériot53 Posted at 11-30 14:01
We took a day-trip there several months ago.  Very interesting.

Yeah, sounds like our kind of thing!