'We don't want to lose them': Campaign launched to save historic cemetery chapels
The twin buildings have been unused for more than a decade
Residents and councillors have started a campaign to save two historic chapels in a town’s cemetery.
The twin buildings at the entrance to Knottingley Cemetery have stood for over 160 years but have been unused for more than a decade.
Concerns have been raised over the state of both properties, which continue to be boarded up and fenced off.
Campaigners have urged Reform-led Wakefield Council to restore the chapels and then hand them to the community.
A florist and a coffee shop are among possible future uses for the buildings suggested by local councillors.
Rachel Speak, Liberal Democrat councillor for Knottingley, said: “I would like the council to take responsibility for getting them back to a state of repair and giving them back to the people of Knottingley and Ferrybridge.
“They have been sitting a long time without being looked at and they have a lot of heritage value to the community.”
Fellow Lib Dem councillor Adele Hayes said: “There’s load of opportunities. Maybe a café, somewhere to pick flowers up on your way in.
“I live up the road, so if I’m coming down it would be so much easier if I could pick flowers up on the way in.”
One chapel was used by the Church of England and the other was used by non-conformists before burials.
Residents also said the buildings represent an important part of Knottingley’s history and want to see new life breathed into them.
Local resident Margaret Fiddes said: “It would be very good to be able to save them as an example of this kind of building, as well as being able to make use of them in the future.”
David Nye said: “I have watched these gradually get more dilapidated over the last five or six years.
“My mum and dad rest in this cemetery and it’s an eyesore at present.”
Wakefield Council declined to comment when contacted but Knottingley’s Reform councillor William Garbutt said the authority did not intend to demolish the chapels.
Coun Garbutt added: “If we can save these chapels we will save these chapels. We don’t want to lose them.
“If we can get backing on these we will keep them. We will reuse them and we will keep them for another 160 years if we can.”
Coun Garbutt urged people to show their support for restoring the buildings and said comments would be considered by the council.