A Manor House in the Quantock Hills which dates back to the time of William the Conqueror is to have its derelict water wheel restored.

Planners have approved works to make good the Grade II listed Victorian water wheel at Cothelstone Manor, near Bishops Lydeard, after it had been languishing in a state of disrepair for some time.

The site is sits within a group of farm buildings dating back to the 19th century, which originally formed a working farmyard associated with the medieval Cothelstone Manor. The buildings are Grade II listed and fall under the Cothelstone Conservation Area.

The 19th century water wheel is contained within a barn on the site. It would have turned the farmyard's grain mill and powered its apple press, milling cereal and preparing cider. Since that time the historic engine has fallen into disrepair.

Heritage expert Jonathan McGuinness who inspected the site said of the wheel: "All the iron fasteners have decayed and require total replacement. The wheel chamber and pit are partly infilled with debris. The wrought iron buckets and soleplates have completely decayed and require total replacement."

However, Jane and Hugh Warmington have now had their ambitious plans to see the wheel turning again approved. In a joint statement Mr and Mrs Warmington said: "Our proposals for the restoration of the wheel will enhance the wheel, by sympathetically restoring it to its former glory.

"Everything will be undertaken to the highest standard and quality. Our proposals will help enhance and conserve the importance of the heritage at Cothelstone."

The works which have now been given the go ahead will include the fitting of new bearings, buckets and soleplates as well as balancing the wheel and making it turn. Mr McGuinness estimates it will cost over £4,000 to rebuild the wheel, with the projected bill rising to in excess of £25,000 if fully recomissioned.

The Government's Farming in Protected Landscape scheme is set to cover 70 per cent of the cost of renovation in grant funding.

The plans were welcomed by the Bishop's Lydeard and Cothelstone Parish Council as well as Historic England.

Somerset West and Taunton Council case officer Kerry Kerr-Peterson gave her support to the plans, saying: "The restoration will enhance the significance of the Cothelstone Manor complex by enhancing the evidential and aesthetic values of the water wheel.

"In addition the restoration of the water wheel will enhance the significance of the conservation area and Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and fulfils the objectives of the Farming in Protected Landscape programme."