FOUR decades after it is thought to have gone missing, a small piece of Wellington’s history is back where it belongs – high up on the front of the old Squirrel Inn in Fore Street, now the town’s museum.

The Cyclists’ Touring Club (CTC) plaque was displayed at the pub for more than 75 years but it was probably lost when the brick building was rendered and painted, possibly in the 1970s.

The plaque was put back in its original position at the end of last month and last week was officially unveiled at a ceremony attended by cycling enthusiasts, councillors and members of Wellington Museum.

Wellington Local History and Museum Society was offered the plaque last summer by Mrs Bowerman, who had retrieved it many years ago, and it was then cleaned and primed professionally, before a museum volunteer painted it its original black and white.

Finally, the building surveyor and conservation officer at Taunton Deane Borough Council, which owns the building, approved the idea of reinstating the cast iron sign, which is 2ft in diameter.

Museum curator Colin Spackman said: “The Cyclists Touring Club recommended to its members hostelries across the country that welcomed cyclists. These recommendations were listed in members’ guides and handbooks.

“In 1886 the CTC adopted a black and white winged wheel logo and from 1887 the CTC produced plaques in the winged wheel design to attach to recommended hostelries.

“What makes this plaque particularly significant is that it includes the legend ‘Headquarters’. Only eight plaques with this wording are known to exist in public view anywhere in the country.”

Mr Spackman said most plaques just used the wheel design but some had the word ‘Headquarters’ indicating a superior standard of accommodation with ‘Quarters’ identifying more basic rooms.