The National Trust has temporarily closed the historic manor house at Baddesley Clinton after a break-in discovered in the early hours on Thursday morning.
Incident and immediate response
Staff at the moated 16th-century property, which stands near Solihull, found evidence of a burglary at about 01:50 BST, the trust has said. Warwickshire Police are investigating the incident. The National Trust did not disclose whether any items were taken.
While the house itself will remain shut while enquiries continue, the trust confirmed that the gardens, parkland, café and shop will stay open to visitors. The organisation said it hoped the house could reopen on Saturday, depending on the outcome of police work.
Community reaction and local significance
Locals and visitors reacted with dismay on social media, reflecting the property's importance to the area. One visitor commented:
"It's one of our favourites. Such a beautiful house. Hope what has been taken is found."
Baddesley Clinton was the home of the Ferrers family for around five centuries. Much of the manor dates from the late 16th century and the property is noted for its priest holes and other secret hiding places used to shelter persecuted Catholics during the 1590s.
What visitors need to know
Those planning to visit should be aware of the temporary closure of the manor house itself. Facilities that remain open include:
- Gardens – accessible to visitors as normal
- Parkland – open for walks and recreation
- Café and shop – operating to serve visitors
| Area | Status |
|---|---|
| Manor house | Closed (under investigation) |
| Gardens, parkland, café, shop | Open |
How to help
The National Trust has asked anyone with information about the break-in to contact Warwickshire Police. Visitors and local residents who were in the area around the time of the incident and who may have dashcam or doorbell footage are being urged to come forward to assist enquiries.
The trust apologised for any disappointment caused to visitors by the temporary closure and said it would provide updates if the reopening plan changes.
This incident underscores the continued vulnerability of historic properties to theft and vandalism and the knock-on effect such crimes have on public access to heritage sites. Warwickshire Police will lead the investigation, and the trust will liaise with officers as they seek to establish what happened and whether any items were removed from the house.
