Grinchy Grief: Vandal Destroys Scrooge’s Grave from ‘A Christmas Carol’ Film

LONDON (AP) — In a curious echo of Charles Dickens’ famous tale, a vandal in the picturesque English countryside may find themselves facing a fate reminiscent of The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

Authorities in Shrewsbury are looking into the destruction of a tombstone that represented the fictional grave of Ebenezer Scrooge, a key character from “A Christmas Carol.” This prop, originally created for the 1984 film adaptation, had become a beloved tourist attraction over the years.

Town Clerk Helen Ball expressed the community’s dismay, noting that the stone was a “hugely popular” landmark among both residents and visitors. At this time of year, various organized tours take attendees to the grounds of St. Chad’s Church, where the gravestone can be found, as part of their itinerary. Ball stated, “Right now, you can only see fragments of the gravestone. The name Ebenezer Scrooge is unrecognizable due to the damage, which is incredibly disrespectful.”

The film adaptation, featuring George C. Scott as the miserly Scrooge, is one of many interpretations of Dickens’s classic story. In the narrative, Scrooge is visited by three spectral figures on Christmas Eve who guide him through his past, present, and future—ultimately prompting him to re-evaluate his life and embrace kindness and generosity.

West Mercia Police reported that the vandalism occurred sometime between Thursday and Sunday, with images revealing the stone shattered into numerous pieces. If the perpetrator is caught, Clerk Ball humorously suggested that a fitting consequence would involve a visit from the spirits themselves. “If the ghosts of past, present, and future want to pay a midnight visit to the vandals and show them the error of their ways, that would make for a perfect punishment,” she remarked.

The story of Scrooge features a pivotal moment where he is shown a grave in a desolate cemetery bearing his name, highlighting the bleak future that awaits him if he does not change his ways. This moment of revelation ultimately drives him to transform into a more benevolent individual.