Lumley Castle hotel in County Durham receives letter from ‘John’, who says he ‘arrived home’ with key after ‘intoxicating evening’

An antique key that disappeared from a 600-year-old castle four decades ago has been returned with a letter of apology from the man who stole it while drunk.

The large iron key to the banqueting hall had not been seen since the 1970s after it disappeared from the heavy wooden doors at Lumley Castle hotel, in Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

But almost half a century later, a letter confessing to the theft arrived with the key inside. Signed with the name John, the thief said he had taken the key after an “intoxicating evening” at the hotel and it had been on his bookcase ever since.

But after making four house moves, he said his conscience had finally caught up with him and he had decided to return it.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Lumley Castle hotel in Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

The letter said: “Back in the 1970s, to my shame, I arrived home with the enclosed key after an intoxicating evening at Lumley Castle. The key, to the best of my memory, fits the outside door in the banqueting hall.

“It has been on my bookcase for around 40 years, I have moved house four times since that time and now reside back in the south of England.

“Over the years my conscience reminded me of those good days in the North East but it is time to correct the matter, so with sincere apologies I duly return the key to you.”

The four-star hotel is trying to track down the man, with people joining in the hunt on social media.

Lauren Colledge, sales manager at the hotel, said they wanted to thank him for posting it back.

“The key has been missing a very long time and nobody had any idea where it was,” she said. “We have no idea who John is but are very glad that he’s finally had an attack of conscience and returned it to its rightful home.

“We hope that someone will know who he is so we can tell him that we forgive him and are very grateful that it’s back at Lumley.”

After being built as a manor house, Sir Ralph Lumley converted the family home into a castle in 1389. The Grade 1-listed building, which overlooks the River Wear, was converted into a hotel in the 1970s.