Man arrested on suspicion of murder after assault at National Trust house
Police were called following reports of an altercation at the Grade I-listed Belton House – CHARLOTTE GRAHAM FOR THE TELEGRAPH A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after an assault at a National Trust house. Police were called following reports of an altercation at Grade I-listed Belton House, near Grantham in Lincolnshire, on Thursday.
Officers attended the 17th-century country estate to find the assault victim had returned home, where he later became unwell and died. A man was arrested on suspicion of murder but Lincolnshire Police said it was keeping an “open mind” over the circumstances surrounding the death. He was released on bail while further enquiries pending further enquiries, and that police were “carrying out enquiries at a number of locations in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire”, including at the country estate.
Police attended the 17th-century country estate after reports of an assault – TOM MADDICK/SWNS A police spokesman said: “We are investigating the circumstances of an assault reported to have taken place at Belton House, near Grantham, after the death of a man.” They added: “A 28-year-old man was reportedly involved in an altercation before returning home, where he later became unwell and sadly died.
“We are keeping an open mind into the circumstances of his death and investigators are following a number of lines of enquiry, including an area in the grounds of Belton House where this is believed to have taken place.”
National Trust staff not involved, police say
The force said the fight did not involve any National Trust staff or volunteers, nor any visitors to Belton House. It said that the incident had not occurred in a space at the property accessible to the public, and added: “It is believed the people involved knew each other. “The incident did not involve any members of staff and volunteers for the National Trust, nor any visitors to Belton House.”
Officers and forensic investigators remained at the property the following day while they conducted initial enquiries. Belton House was built between 1685 and 1687 by Sir John Brownlow and has been in the same family for 300 years. The National Trust said it is often described as the “perfect English country house estate” with sprawling formal gardens and an art collection dating back 400 years.
Story continues The house has been used as a filming location for Netflix’s Bridgerton and the BBC’s 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice. Lincolnshire Police has appealed to members of the public for any information which could help its enquiries.
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