Castle memorial plaque missing days after unveiling

A plaque remembering 2,500 Caribbean people who were imprisoned at a castle has gone missing days after it was installed.

It was unveiled at Portchester Castle in Hampshire on 9 October to mark 230 years since the prisoners were brought to Britain, some of whom died during the journey.

Castle staff discovered the plaque and a gate padlock had been removed five days later.

The group that commissioned it described it was "deeply upsetting". Hampshire police is investigating the disappearance, which is believed to have happened between 16:15 BST on 13 October and 06:30 on 14 October.

The plaque was commissioned by St Vincent and the Grenadines 2nd Generation (SV2G), a UK-based Caribbean arts and heritage organisation, and was funded by the University of Warwick.

CEO Dr Jacqueline Roberts said: "The plaque was not merely a marker, it was a sacred symbol of remembrance, honouring our ancestors who endured captivity, displacement and unimaginable hardship.

"It represented their courage, their resistance and their enduring spirit that continues to guide us today.

"Our ancestors' story will not be silenced. Their spirit remains with us in the earth, sea and in the hearts of all who remember," Roberts added.

In 1796, about 2,500 men, women and children surrendered to British forces during fighting over St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada.

Most were brought to Portchester Castle, which served as a prisoner-of-war camp during the 18th Century.

Professor Katherine Astbury, from the University of Warwick, said: "This is an important, forgotten part of Caribbean history and so much work has gone into recovering the prisoners' stories.

"The plaque was meant to ensure that they have a visible and permanent place in the history of the castle.

"We very much hope that whoever has taken it will understand what it represents and return it."

Iona Keen, head of learning and interpretation at English Heritage, which looks after Portchester Castle, said the suspected theft was "incredulous and bitterly disappointing" and that the charity is "considering next steps".

Anyone with information about the disappearance of the plaque is asked to contact police.

A fundraiser has since been launched to restore the memorial.