A murder investigation has been launched after a man was killed in a fight at a posh estate owned by the National Trust. Police rushed to the Grade I-listed Belton House in Grantham, Lincolnshire, to reports of the assault on Thursday (November 30).
Once there, they found that the assault victim, aged 28, had returned home, where he later became unwell and died. A man was arrested on suspicion of murder but Lincolnshire Police said they were keeping an ‘open mind’ into the circumstances surrounding the death.
The force said the fight did not involve any members of staff and volunteers for the National Trust, nor any visitors to Belton House, a 17th century building which features in Netflix’s Bridgerton and the 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
A police spokesperson 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.
“Officers received a report than an altercation had taken place at the property earlier today (30 November).
“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.
“This is not in the public spaces, and 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 will remain on scene at the property for at least the next day while they conduct initial enquiries.
“A 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody where he will be questioned in due course.”
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 an art collection dating back 400 years and sprawling formal gardens.
Anyone with information is asked to contact DS Gstrein at Daniel.Gstrein@lincs.police.uk quoting incident 240 of November 30.
