It would appear that the previous page 6 with my posting about the KOYLI memorial cottage homes at Batley (and Smethwick's reply about Private Augustine Davenport) has 'fallen off'. Hopefully the following is a close representation of what I originally posted.
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Memorial Cottage Homes, 39 & 41 Victoria Avenue, Mount Pleasant, Batley (x2 cottages). Erected in memory of the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the KOYLI, who lost their lives during the war in South Africa. Demolished circa 1983.
Fund for erecting and endowing the homes originated by Colonel G P F Byng in 1903. By the end of 1904, £700, including £100 from the Regimental Homes and Benefits Agency had been raised. A Military Tattoo in July 1905, by the 2nd Battalion KOYLI, including a torchlight tattoo in the presence of 5,000 spectators, to help raise funds for the cottage homes. In November 1905, a Grand Military Concert was held at the Albert Hall, Sheffield in aid of the cottage homes of the KOYLI.
A site at Sharlston was originally suggested, but the Soldiers Cottage Homes Association, thought the homes would be more appreciated by the men who would ultimately occupy them if they were erected in a large town rather than a country district. A location was then sought at Pontefract, but unable to find a suitable site at a reasonable price in that town. In 1905, a site for the cottage homes at Wakefield was given by Mr Wilson of Crofton House.
In 1907, the Mayor, Corporation and Burgesses of Batley decided to sell land in Victoria Avenue at a reasonable price (about £120) and present it for the memorial cottage homes. At that time a sum approaching £1,000 had been raised “…sufficient to erect and endow two cottage homes, which will be superior artisan’s dwellings, well-built, and furnished in every respect, and architecturally an addition to the district in which they are placed.” (Batley Reporter and Guardian 13th May 1907) The cost of the site was defrayed by residents in Batley, mainly through the efforts of Alderman J W Blackburn.
The two cottages were built 1910-1911, on about a quarter of an acre of a site. Formally opened in May 1911. The plans prepared by Mr Alan G James and the contract awarded to Messrs Akeroyd of Birstall. Pontefract & Castleford Express 12th May 1911: “The two cottages are beautifully built and cleverly designed, are indeed models.” Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer 15th May 1911, “…two commodious semi-detached cottages…”
The first occupant of the new homes was ex-Sergeant Carr. In addition to his pension, he had free use of the cottage, and the rates and taxes were paid out of an endowment fund. The 1939 Census reveals Charles Carr, army pensioner , b.1870 Maresfield, Sussex, living at 41 Victoria Avenue with his wife Margaret. No. 39 Victoria Avenue was occupied by Harriet Davenport, widow.
I believe Charles Carr (service no. 4285), enlisted with the KOYLI in 1893. I found a Sergt. C Carr, service no. 4235 of the KOYLI, who served in South Africa and was invalided to England. (Incorrect service number, 8 instead of a 3 or a different C Carr?)
I found a private Augustine Davenport, KOYLI, service no. 2230, who served in South Africa (Wittenberg & Cape Colony medal clasps) and was invalided home. The 1921 Census reveals, Augustine Davenport, b1866 Worcestershire, living with H Davenport, Victoria Avenue, Batley. Augustine Davenport died in May 1939 and is buried in Batley Cemetery.
The 1911 Census reveals a Charles Carr, army pensioner, living in Uckfield, Sussex and an Augustine Davenport, army pensioner, living at 215 Castleford Road, Normanton.
The 1901 Census reveals Augustine Davenport living in Normanton. (From the 1914 Register of Electors, Township of Normanton. Augustine Davenport, living at Victoria Avenue, Mount Pleasant, Batley. Qualifying property – 215 Castleford Road.
KOYLI regimental journal ‘The Bugle’, dated 1929, No.6 p.24:
‘The Cottage Homes situated at Batley and occupied by Sergeant E Carr and Corporal A Davenport received a visit on Sunday morning, the 12th May, from the Chairman of the Association accompanied by the Honorary Treasurer and the Secretary.
Calling at the cottage occupied by Sergeant Carr, the Chairman was shown over the whole house and expressed his pleasure at meeting the occupant, his wife and their son and daughter.
He next visited the cottage occupied by Corporal Davenport and carried out the same inspection, Corporal Davenport accompanied by his wife, showing the Chairman around.
Both occupants have been in residence since the two cottages were first built some 19 years since and we might say the name cottage is not quite what some would call such good houses. They are six good-sized roomed houses with hot and cold water laid on, are stone built, and have small and quite good gardens attached, also outhouses.
Like all good old soldiers’ houses, everything was spick and span and the Chairman expressed his pleasure at meeting two old members of the Regiment.’
By the 1970s, both homes were in need of repair and by December 1979 the properties were vacant.
The Silver Bugle 1981, no.1 p.84:
‘Nos 39 and 41 Victoria Avenue, Batley, built in 1910-12 as a memorial to those of the Regiment killed in the Boer War, were occupied, rent and rates free, by deserving members of the Regiment. No 41 became vacant in 1976 and No 39 at the end of 1979. Since the area is now being industrialised, there is little likelihood of obtaining tenants from the Regiment. Whilst the small income from investments was sufficient to maintain these cottages until after 1945, since then the excess of expenditure, which in the last 10 years alone has amounted to over £15,000, has been met by Association Funds. To renovate and modernise would have cost £15,000 and so application to sell was made to, and authority granted by, the Charity Commission.'
The site/cottages were sold to Messrs Fox Biscuits Ltd in October 1981, for £16,000. The cottages were probably demolished following the granting of planning permission (application ref. 83/62/4331) by Kirklees MBC, for the formation of access and concrete pad for Fox’s Biscuits.
If anyone has has photographs/sketches/drawings of these memorial cottage homes it would be great to see them please.
I have contacted Fox's Biscuits to ask if they would be willing to erect a plaque on/near the site of these former cottage homes/war memorial.
