Details emerge of £30m theft

Specific details of the art and antiques stolen during a multi-million pound raid on Ramsbury Manor on the evening of February 1 were emerging from Wiltshire Police late last week. The trade have been asked for their help in the recovery effort.

Among the objects taken in Britain’s biggest domestic break-in are a barometer by Daniel Delander (1674-1733), a pair of ormolu two-light candelabra with lion masks by Matthew Boulton, c.1772 and a portrait of Cardinal Infante Ferdinand of Austria by Abraham Van Diepenbeeck (1596-1675). A group of clocks include a Thomas Tompion table clock, c.1675, two biscuit porcelain and ormolu mantel clock by Benjamin Vulliamy and a walnut and brass inlaid musical and quarter chiming table clock by John Ellicott. A collection of 18th century English porcelain was stolen it its entirety, including a pair of white Bow busts of Mongolians, c.1750.

Initial estimates of the antiques and paintings stolen from Ramsbury – representing 50 years of collecting for the property developer Harry Hyams, put their value at up to £30m.

Detectives say that the burglars appear to have targeted specific objects and will investigate the possibility that the break-in could be linked to other recent high-profile country house burglaries.

The alarm was raised at 10.40pm on Wednesday last week when the burglars – who negotiated sophisticated security systems to break in through a ground-floor window – were disturbed by Mr Hyams’s chauffeur. They left the scene in two vehicles. Although there were people in residence at the time, they were not involved in the crime and no one was harmed.

Inspector Watson from Devizes CID is leading the enquiry. Any information should be forwarded to DI Watson at Wiltshire Police on 0845 408 7000.