Council officers working on a multi-million pound restoration of Shire Hall are celebrating after a scroll that was stolen from the statue outside the building was returned.
Monmouthshire County Council has been renovating Shire Hall in Monmouth with help from lottery funding.
Between 14th May and 16th May the 218 year-old scroll – part of the statue of Henry V which was erected at the front of the Shire Hall in 1792 – was stolen.
The scroll has no resale value but has significant historical value.
Monmouthshire County Council is due to complete the project soon and appealed to people in Monmouth to help them find the scroll.
Project Manager for the scheme, Keith Davies, said:
“We are so excited and relieved to have the scroll back and we send our thanks to the police and the people in Monmouth who helped to get it back.
“Last week the police made enquiries with local people that they thought could have been involved and they stressed that the scroll should just be handed back.
“Then while holding a community policing surgery in Monmouth, a young person turned up with the scroll asking if there was a reward for its safe return.
“The police confirmed there was no reward and handed the scroll back to the council’s Monmouth One Stop Shop.
“The gold leaf to the scroll has been damaged so the contractor has to carry out the gold leaf application again at an estimated cost of £300, plus the cost of access up to the Henry statue.
“The police are making further enquiries at this time, but we are just happy that the scroll is back.”
