Marlborough Town Council has given up hope of finding its mayoral chains, which were stolen from the town hall last October, and now wants to replace them.
The town council’s insurers have agreed a payment of £96,550 to replace the 18 carat gold chain which was first worn by the then Marlborough mayor, Thomas Free, in 1911.
Town clerk Shelly Parker has approached the two companies capable of reproducing the stolen chain in the UK but these craftsmen were unable to meet the deadline of last night’s full town council meeting so councillors voted to hold an additional meeting next Monday.
Once councillors have decided on the design of the chain it is likely that the replacement will take between four and five months to produce.
The chains, which were decorated with amethysts and other precious stones, were taken from the town hall between 7.30pm on October 14 and 8am on October 15.
They had been securely locked away in the mayor’s parlour with other insignia in line with insurance requirements and nothing else was taken during the break-in.
The insurance claim also included the cost of repairs to the town hall as a result of the break-in which came to £1,851.60.
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