A 16th century carved wooden screen, which lies in pieces in Newton Abbot Museum's store, is to be restored and put on show for the first time in 175 years.

It is thanks to a £43,700 restoration grant from the Heritage Lottery fund.

The Heart of Oak project has also attracted £10,000 from Ugbrooke Environmental Ltd as well as donations from the Golsoncott Foundation, the Claude and Margaret Pike charity, councillors and others.

The Sandford Orleigh, measuring 16ft x 14ft, is originally thought to have graced St Leonard's Chapel.

The Tudor masterpiece takes its name from the Newton Abbot residence it later embellished after the chapel nave was demolished in 1836.

Local industrialist George Templer bought it and had the 16 wooden panels put into a framework of supporters and caryatids to become an imposing chimney breast.

When the building was divided up in 1997, the screen was removed and many of the panels were damaged and some of the carving was lost.

Two years ago Newton Abbot museum managed to acquire the screen and launched the Heart of Oak fundraising project.

The grant will pay for a specialist timber conservator and also an art historian, who will try to uncover its history. For instance, how old is it? Where does it come from? And why, considering it was first in a chapel, do the panels contain exuberant carvings of cherubs, cornucopia and pipers, all secular, not sacred?

It is possibly not English at all but comes from the continent. Its date of 1534 is based on guesswork. What is known is that it is extremely fine, very rare and of national importance.

Once restored the screen will go on display for the first time in 175 years.

Newton Abbot museum curator Felicity Cole said the aim will be to involve the public in every way possible.

There will be a series of lectures and workshops from June to June 2012, to help bring this work of art of life, featuring wood-carving, felt-making, photography, storytelling and animation, giving local people the opportunity to create new panels of art work which will feature in a touring exhibition.

A Heart of Oak Conservation Project website went live on May 31 and will provide regular updates.

Ms Cole said: 'We are excited and delighted to be able to restore this wonderful Tudor oak screen. It's been part of Newton Abbot's history for 500 years. The Heritage Lottery Fund and other sponsors will also mean we can involve the whole community.'

John Pike, chairman of the Ball Clay Heritage Society, said: 'The screen is an important part of Newton Abbot's heritage, and its restoration will greatly enrich the culture of the town and its inhabitants.'