A 230-year-old statue of water nymph was defaced by roaming children with crayons

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A 230-year-old statue of water nymph was defaced by roaming children with crayons
Crayon covering the coade stone statue 'Sabrina', Croome, Worcestershire. The statue was vandalised over Easter weekend, 2023.National Trust Images
  • A 230-year-old statue at the Croome Court mansion in Worcestershire was vandalized Easter weekend.
  • After crayons were handed out to kids during an event, blue streaks appeared on the statue "Sabrina."
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The face, arms, and torso of a 230-year-old statue were found covered with zig-zagging blue scribbles on Easter weekend after crayons were handed out to children in activity packs given to them during an egg hunt event.

"We are dismayed that this has happened," a National Trust spokesperson told the BBC about the April 8 incident, adding: "Disappointing as they are, incidents like this are very rare considering the millions of visitors who enjoy and respect the places in our care."

A 230-year-old statue of water nymph was defaced by roaming children with crayons
Crayon covering the coade stone statue 'Sabrina', Croome, Worcestershire. The statue was vandalised over Easter weekend, 2023.National Trust Images

Representatives for National Trust, the nonprofit organization that maintains the historic Croome Court estate in Worcestershire, did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. It remains unclear if there was security present at the outdoor event.

The statue, a water nymph by the sculptor John Bacon, was created between the late 1780s and early 1800s, The New York Times reported. The blue scribbles have since been removed, the outlet reported.

A 230-year-old statue of water nymph was defaced by roaming children with crayons
Crayon covering the coade stone statue 'Sabrina', Croome, Worcestershire. The statue was vandalised over Easter weekend, 2023.National Trust Images

A second impacted statue, a memorial to the landscape artist Lancelot Brown, was also defaced with messy blue marks, the BBC reported. It has still not yet been completely restored.

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The responsible party has not been identified, a National Trust spokesperson told The New York Times.

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