Georgian Mansion with Brontë Ties Set for Auction

The auction date for the Red House, a Grade II* listed Georgian mansion in Gomersal with historical ties to the Brontë family, has been confirmed. Kirklees Council announced that the property, which previously operated as a museum, will be put up for sale through Pugh Auctions on 3 December, carrying a guide price exceeding £650,000. This property served as the residence of Mary Taylor, a friend of Charlotte Brontë. It functioned as a museum until its closure in 2016, and subsequent proposals to convert it into holiday accommodation and a wedding venue did not materialize. Last year, Kirklees Council declared its intention to divest various assets as part of efforts to tackle a £47 million deficit. The Red House Yorkshire Heritage Trust, established in 2019 with the aim of preserving the site, expressed that they were “profoundly saddened” by the council’s choice to sell the property. In a statement posted on their Facebook page, the Trust indicated that they had collaborated with Communities Together to submit an offer to acquire the house and its gardens, intending to reinstate community access. However, the council did not accept this bid. “As a result, Red House will now be sold by auction,” the group stated. “We are profoundly saddened by this outcome and fully understand and share the community’s strong disapproval of the council’s decision.” Graham Turner, Kirklees Council’s cabinet member for finance and regeneration, was quoted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service as saying: “As this building is now surplus to the council’s requirements, it could generate crucial capital funding to help us deliver a better future for Kirklees.” The Red House was home to Mary Taylor’s family, and it was at Roe Head School in Mirfield where she first encountered Charlotte Brontë, with whom she maintained a lifelong friendship.