A GROUP of 89 items have been acquired for the nation and will remain on public display at Castle Howard.

The objects, including Roman antiquities from the Castle Howard collection, which were mainly collected by Henry Howard (1694-1758), Fourth Earl of Carlisle, on his Grand Tour, were acquired through the Acceptance in Lieu Scheme and allocated to National Museums Liverpool.

Highlights of the collection include a second-century AD head of the satyr Silenus crowned with ivy leaves and berries.

Nicholas Howard, director of Castle Howard Estate Ltd, said: “These highly important sculptures will continue to be housed and displayed at Castle Howard.

“I am delighted that this agreement builds on an already strong relationship with Liverpool, and we look forward to working closely with National Museums Liverpool in this exciting northern partnership.”

Edward Harley, chairman of the Acceptance in Lieu Panel, said: “It gives me great pleasure that the Acceptance in Lieu Scheme has enabled the nation to acquire these wonderfully diverse objects.

“The panel and I thank National Museums Liverpool for making it possible for the antiquities to remain in situ at Castle Howard.

“The collection has great art-historical and archaeological importance and its continued display at Castle Howard ensures that it will also be able to tell the story of two great 18th-century collectors.”

Sharon Granville, executive director of Collections and Estate at National Museums Liverpool, said: “We are delighted that these immensely important sculptures have been saved for the nation under the Acceptance in Lieu Scheme and that they will remain in the magnificent surroundings of Castle Howard where they will continue to be accessible to the public.

“National Museums Liverpool, as the national museum in the North of England, is pleased to be adding this fine collection to our existing internationally-important classical antiquities collection – second only now in the UK to the British Museum.

“We are grateful to the Secretary of State and to Arts Council England for their support in making this happen.”