Theft at Stowe

Extract of copy letter from Joseph Parrott (Stowe Steward) to Nugent Buckingham. HEH STG Correspondence Box 491 (88). 9 April 1809.

I have to communicate to your Lordship that a Person named Edward Lethbury, a Labourer in the Gardens has been stealing lead therefrom, and the circumstances which led to his detection.

Some little time back he brought a lot of old lead to sell to French, the Brazier of Buckingham, stating it to be the remainder of some old Milk Leads […]

The man admitted his guilt […]

The whole of one hand from the Statue of Neptune & the fingers from the left hand, also a part of the mantle

The Trumpet from the hand of one of the Muses and the Amelian Arch

The Fiddle from the Statue side of Baccus’s Temple

The tail from the Boar from the Statue of Hercules and the Boar

Five Lead Pans in which water was put for the Ducks or Chickens.

Lethbury has been employed in the Garden from about Michaelmas last.