AN ancient Celtic cross which has lain hidden in the undergrowth in a garden in the centre of Liskeard is to be restored, and returned to the SE Cornwall countryside.

The medieval wheel-headed granite cross was originally erected on Bodmin Priory land (pre-Domesday), but in more recent times had been put to use as a farm gatepost.

In the 1930s it was spotted by a Mr Glubb, then the owner of Pendean House, who fancied it for a focal point in his gardens. He had the cross moved to Liskeard but requested in his will that it be returned to its rightful place in the parish of St Cleer.

The question of returning the cross was raised by the Old Cornwall Society following Mr Glubb's death in 1947, and then once again in the 1970s, and while it was listed by English Heritage as a scheduled monument in 1974, it remained in the gardens of Pendean House (now a children's care home), gradually disappearing from sight under a large tree and laurel bushes.

Now the cross is to be carefully repaired and returned to a rural wayside, thanks to a partnership between English Heritage Scheduled Monument Management and the Caradon Hill Area Heritage Project (CHAHP), who are supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

An extract from an English Heritage report on the ancient monument reads: 'Over the last sixty years there has been a desire to move the cross from its virtually inaccessible setting at Pendean House, back to where it was originally discovered, where it could be visible and fully accessible.

'Because the cross had been used as a gatepost it still has the remains of an iron gate hanging in the centre of the shaft. This has corroded to the extent that it has cracked the shaft, which could break in two at any time. The cross requires repair as a matter of urgency.'

Early one morning at Pendean, an English Heritage approved conservation team removed the iron gate hanging and pinned the shaft of the cross, then it was down to local stonemasons CF Piper & Son to remove the three-quarter ton monument in order to fit it into a new base.

The Cornish Times will be following the progress of the cross as it is returned to its original location in the parish of St Cleer.