In a highly unusual daytime break-in, a group of five people brazenly entered the Grade II* listed Maunsel House estate in Bridgwater, Somerset, between 2pm and 4pm on Sunday, August 24. Valued at £3.5 million, the estate is notable not only for its 13 bedrooms and history dating back to the late 14th century, but also as the believed site where Geoffrey Chaucer authored The Canterbury Tales.
Footage from the mansion’s CCTV cameras shows four men and one woman roaming freely inside a large reception room. Rather than fleeing, the group took their time photographing the interior, and one man even relaxed on a vibrant red velvet sofa, all without any attempt to conceal their identities.
Sir Benjamin Slade, the 79-year-old owner of the historic property, expressed profound shock and dismay upon reviewing the footage. He described the feeling of violation at seeing strangers so casually handling his belongings, saying, “I feel completely gutted.” Despite the reckless behavior, the thieves stole only small trinkets, including a back door key, and caused damages amounting to a few hundred pounds. “It was as if they were collecting souvenirs,” Sir Benjamin remarked.
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The CCTV captured a dramatic entry as two men used a ladder to access the property, even tampering with cameras to try and disable surveillance. The following evening, a man attempted another break-in but was scared away by someone inside the house at the time. Sir Benjamin remains concerned about the possibility of repeated incidents and is unhesitant about sharing the footage to deter future offenses.
Avon and Somerset Police have launched an investigation and released CCTV images to help identify the suspects. The group is described as follows: a large-built white woman aged 35-40 with blonde hair in a ponytail; a white athletic male, 35-40, with receding brown hair; a large-built white male, 30-35, with a buzz cut; a slim white male, 25-30, ginger-haired and wearing glasses; and an athletic white male, around 35, with a brown goatee and a black hat.
Officers have collected fingerprints from the scene and are urging anyone who witnessed suspicious activity or recognizes the individuals to come forward. Despite the bizarre nature of the crime—intruders seemingly treating the property like a tourist destination—the damage and sense of violation left behind are deeply felt by Sir Benjamin and the local community.