Vandalism Damages Ebenezer Scrooge Movie Prop Gravestone in Shrewsbury

The gravestone of Ebenezer Scrooge, a prop from a 1984 film adaptation of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, has been destroyed. This inscribed stone had been situated in the graveyard adjacent to St Chad’s Church in Shrewsbury for four decades, ever since the movie’s release. Helen Ball, the town council clerk, reported being informed of the gravestone’s damage on Sunday. She stated, “We’re now left with a gravestone that’s in multiple pieces,” and further commented, “I think it’s one of those things that’s very dear to everybody’s hearts.” Ms. Ball noted that the community has collectively expressed disgust concerning the act of vandalism, with numerous individuals voicing their anger on Facebook. She remarked, “It happened in a graveyard, and the disrespect that has been shown is evident.” In the film, the gravestone is featured during the scene where Scrooge encounters the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come and uncovers his name by wiping away snow. Clive Donner directed the movie, much of which was shot in the Shropshire town, with George C Scott playing the role of Scrooge. Ms. Ball mentioned that the daughter of the gravestone’s original creator had contacted them regarding the damage, conveying her father’s distress. She also indicated that town council personnel would evaluate the feasibility of repairing the shattered gravestone, assuming all fragments are still present at the location. She described the gravestone as a well-liked tourist attraction in Shrewsbury and a source of local pride. Ms. Ball quoted, “A lot of us go on a Christmas pilgrimage to see it, whenever we have any friends or family who come to stay we always make a point of taking them to it.” Ms. Ball confirmed that the event had been reported to the police and that the council was examining CCTV footage. She further stated, “The person who did it may have a conscience and decide to own up.”