RESTORATION work is to be carried out on a Victorian lantern which has been found after going missing from one of Wellington’s most historic thoroughfares several years ago.

The lantern used to hang over an archway in Cornhill, behind what is now the Iron Duke public house.

It was removed by the former Taunton Deane Borough Council in about 2018 when it became loose and it was feared it could fall on somebody.

The storage location of the lantern was then forgotten until town Cllr Keith Wheatley started to investigate what had happened to it.

Victorian lantern Cornhill Wellington Town Council
The historic lantern (Wellington Town Council)

Somerset West and Taunton Council discovered it in an electrical contractor’s storage depot and returned it last week to the town council.

Town clerk Dave Farrow said: “We are looking forward to refurbishing and reinstating this piece of history in its original place later this year.”