A HISTORIC Victorian lantern which once hung in the Cornhill area of Wellington is to be re-installed in the town centre.

The lantern used to be at the top of Cornhill, but when the area was hit by a fire in 2008 it fell into disrepair and the lantern was removed and never seen again.

But Cllr Keith Wheatley, of Wellington Town Council, turned detective and earlier this year the lantern was discovered stored away at an electrical contractor who had been working for the then Somerset County Council.

Now members of the council’s economic development committee – who met on July 10 – are keen to see the lantern returned to Wellington.

Gown Engineers, of Shepton Mallet, has worked on behalf of the town council to find a suitable location for the lantern.

The lantern was originally hung off a timber beam at the back of Number 3 Fore Street. But councillors were told that the engineers had advised the beam was beginning to rot and would not be able to support the weight of the lantern.

A detailed report said that another possible location for the lantern at the front of the Cornhill on Fore Street might also present problems.

It was also suggested that the lantern could be sited in the new residential street off Cornhill and giving access to Old Court Mews.

A spokesman for Gown Engineers said: “The condition of the structure over the entrance to Cornhill from Fore Street has been found to be in a poor or unknown condition.

“The exposed timber beam to the rear of Number 3 Fore Street and above the pedestrian way needs to be properly assessed and may pose a risk to public safety.”

But the spokesman said a solution could be the new development as it would still be in the Cornhill area.

Cllr Wheatley said that Gown Engineers should be applauded having gone into great detail in their investigations.

Cllr John Thorne said: “The consultants say it should be by the entrance to the new housing development and I support that.”

It was unanimously agreed by the councillors.