 One of the footballs kicked across no-man's land on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916 were among the thousands of historic items destroyed, but the six Victoria Crosses thought to have been destroyed were replicas – the originals were held in a bank vault.Although some paintings and furniture were rescued by staff, many tapestries and some items of porcelain were heavily damaged.A large portrait of Richard Onslow, 1st Baron Onslow who was Speaker of the House of Commons in the early 18th century, was saved after being cut from its frame.