Restoration begins on Batley’s historic Charter
West Yorkshire Archive Service Kirklees Archivist
Kirklees Council and West Yorkshire Archive Service are delighted to announce that as part of the Batley 150 celebrations we’re working together to restore the remarkable document that created the Borough of Batley exactly 150 years ago.
The unique Charter of Incorporation was issued by Queen Victoria in December 1868. It gave the people of Batley the power to elect a council, who set up and ran public services for the good of the borough and its people.
The creation of this impressive document was the culmination of years of campaigning and petitioning by Batley’s residents, who wanted the democratic powers to be able to transform their town which had dramatically grown in size and stature due to industrialisation and urbanisation throughout the 19th century.
The powers created by the charter led to Batley Borough Council developing some of Batley’s most important services and buildings, many of which are still here today: the water supply and sewerage networks, the Town Hall and Market Place, Batley General Hospital, cemeteries, council housing, the Public Baths and Library, Wilton Park and Bagshaw Museum… the list goes on and on!
After 150 years of remarkable achievements, the document that started it all off is now in need of some special care to ensure that it is preserved for current and future generations to discover and enjoy.
Once the charter has been fully restored it will then be made fully accessible to members of the public to view and research within the searchroom at West Yorkshire Archive Service Kirklees and an exact facsimile of the charter will be framed and displayed within Batley Town Hall.
As the conservation work progresses, we’ll keep you posted with photographs and updates on this blog and via the @wyorksarchives and @kirkdemocracy Twitter accounts.
One thought on “Restoration begins on Batley’s historic Charter”
Devolved localism is still important today. Let’s hope the restored charter helps the implement the same issues still needed for Batley. That’s the real meaning of its restoration, not just historical