AN historic lychgate in Minehead Cemetery is being restored for the first time in a century to a condition which should ensure it survives for the next 100 years.

Work on its preservation has been ongoing throughout the winter after town councillors authorised the estimated £12,000 cost.

Acrow props were used to make the lychgate safe, but meant the entrance had to be fenced off and made temporarily unavailable.

Contractors are expected to complete structural works by the spring.

The cemetery opened in 1867 and is a designated Commonwealth War Graves site with 22 casualties from the First and Second World Wars buried there.

The lychgate is considered an important heritage structure, but ‘significant signs of age and deterioration’ were found last year.

Councillors approved a comprehensive restoration project and commissioned specialist joinery contractors to manage its preservation.

The work involves carefully raising the structure to remove and inspect its oak wall plates, which were in particularly poor condition.

Existing oak uprights would then be thoroughly examined and decisions made about their potential reuse or replacement.

Town clerk Ben Parker said: “All replacement materials will be high quality European oak, maintaining the structure’s historical integrity.”

Mr Parker said the project also included replacing the existing cemetery gates with three new ones crafted from durable iroko teak wood and designed to complement the lychgate’s original aesthetic.

Minehead Conservation Society has given its full support to the restoration efforts and offered a £500 contribution once the project was completed.

Mr Parker said the council had proactively budgeted for the work and had £10,000 of reserves available to support improvements to the cemetery.

He said: “Although the expenditure may seem significant, the long-term benefits are substantial.

“With careful maintenance, the lychgate is expected to stand for another century, continuing to serve as a cherished historical landmark for Minehead.”