Number one at the box office, and instead of celebrating, Aardman Studios is mourning the loss of Wallace & Gromit’s history to a fire.

Aardman said an early morning fire on Monday gutted its warehouse in this western English city, destroying a priceless archive of props, sets and models.

Aardman had just learned that “The Curse of the Were-Rabbit,” the first full-length adventure for the eccentric inventor and his indomitable dog, had topped the U.S. box office on its opening weekend.

“Today was supposed to be a day of celebration, with the news that Wallace and Gromit had gone in at number one at the U.S. box office, but instead our whole history has been wiped out,” said Aardman spokesman Arthur Sheriff. “It’s turned out to be a terrible day.”

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