Historic Batley landmark sold for £100k

Batley Cemetery Lodge, a Grade II-listed building placed just inside the cemetery gates, in Cemetery Lane was auctioned off by Kirklees Council earlier this month.

The 19th century property, which was where the cemetery registrar traditionally lived, was sold at the Cedar Court Hotel, in Huddersfield, for £100,000, the top end of the estimated guide price.

Over the years it has been a home to registered Batley charities such as Environment Concern and the Twin Chapels Centre, which offered older people support and computer training - but they handed the keys over to the council about 18 months ago.

Since then the threat of vandalism to the empty building had been a concern, but it is now occupied by temporary tenants.

Vice-chairman of the Batley Cemetery Support Group Roger Jenkinson said he thought the lodge should have been saved for community use.

Five other sites were also sold at the auction, which landed a £1 million windfall for the council.

The local authority is selling off millions of pounds worth of surplus land and property to help balance the books.