Family Breaks 800-Year-Old Coffin After Putting Child Into It For Photo

We have previously discussed tourists who damage art and artifacts by their thoughtless conduct (here and here and here and here).  Unfortunately, we have yet another such example.According to Southend Echo visitors to the Prittlewell Priory Museum in Southend, Essex, visitors damaged a unique  800-year-old stone coffin to snap a picture.

The coffin was found on the priory grounds in 1921 is believed to have been made for a senior monk.  The visitors placed a child in the coffin and snapped a picture.  Part of the sarcophagus then tumbled over and a chunk fell off.  The family then fled the museum but they were recorded on CCTV.