A PLAQUE has been unveiled on an old lych gate which has been standing in the heart of Headless Cross for more than a century.

The new plaque describes the history of the unique gate in Rectory Road, which was built in 1861.

Headless Cross Neighbourhood Group paid for it from its council budget and members and councillors were at the unveiling ceremony on Friday afternoon.

The gate stands as the entrance to what is today known as St Luke's Gardens and what was formally a burial ground.

It was the gift of Baroness Windsor, the wife of the Earl of Plymouth, who lived at Hewell Grange.

The gate and grounds were consecrated by the Bishop of Worcester on July 30, 1861.

The original rectory which stood in the road was demolished to make way for the Bromsgrove Highway.

Graham Hemming, a member of the neighbourhood group's landscape committee, said: "This gate and the burial ground is a fine piece of Headless Cross history.

"The ground has never been exhumed and the area has been landscaped and is maintained by the council.

"The ancient headstones are set around the perimeter but, unfortunately, many of them have been vandalised.

"The neighbourhood group is trying to get the council to invest money to secure the area against future vandalism before an important piece of history is lost."

The burial ground is also mentioned in the Kelly's Directory of 1880 describing it as "beautifully situated on the borders of a wood".