A ONCE-in-a-century restoration of the Minehead Cemetery lychgate has been completed by specialist joinery contractors to ensure it can remain standing for another 100 years.

The £15,800 town council project took a little longer than originally planned, but town clerk Ben Parker said: “The outcome is a significant and lasting improvement.”

Mr Parker said the lychgate was now structurally secure, and its new iroko gates provided ‘an elegant and respectful entrance that is more in keeping with the cemetery’s setting’.

He said: “The investment has not only safeguarded an important structure but has also enhanced the overall appearance of the cemetery.

“The collaboration between the appointed contractor and the council’s amenities team ensured the project was delivered to a high standard, with additional costs kept proportionate to the specialist nature of the work.”

The cemetery, in Woodcombe, Porlock Road, is a designated Commonwealth War Graves site containing the burials of 13 First World War casualties and nine from the Second World War, and was opened in 1867.

Significant signs of age and deterioration were found last autumn in the structural condition of the lychgate, considered an important heritage structure.

Councillors agreed in 2024 to appoint a specialist joiner to undertake the lychgate repair and also commissioned the design, creation, and installation of new gates for both the lychgate and the cemetery’s side entrance.

Mr Parker said oak was chosen for replacement beams and iroko for the new gates as both were durable hardwoods suitable for long-term use.

He said: “The kiln-dried European oak beams required additional drying time before they could be worked, during which some natural splits in the wood became more visible.

“The supplier confirmed these would not affect the strength or lifespan of the beams.

“However, it has had a disappointing impact on the aesthetics.

“The iroko gates were designed to be in keeping with the sensitive setting of the cemetery while providing durability.

“Additional iroko was required to achieve the necessary strength and a more robust gatepost was also installed to support their weight.

“As with many bespoke projects, scheduling and resourcing required flexibility.

“Support from the council’s amenities team was used at key stages to help deliver the works efficiently and to keep costs down.

“The quality of the ground around the cemetery entrances created challenges for the installation of the new gates.

“Following completion, resurfacing works were commissioned to improve the surrounding area and ensure a quality finish.”

Mr Parker said costs were met from council reserves earmarked for the cemetery improvements and other than some minor additional work such as further timber treatment, the project was now complete.

Members of Minehead Conservation Society, who supported the restoration work and offered to make a £500 grant once the project was finished, are to be invited to view the completed works along with town councillors.

The town council has been looking at options in the past few years for expanding the cemetery amid concern it could soon become full, which could involve buying more land.