A LAW lecturer claims more than 1,700 bodies are still buried at Tyldesley Top Chapel, which faces an uncertain future after being put up for sale earlier this year.

Wigan Council placed a temporary block on the potential sale of the Grade II listed building as a commercial property in May and listed it as an asset of community value.

Owned by Cadence Festivals Limited, the chapel had been put up for auction via online real estate portal Rightmove.

The property description on the online auction stated that it ‘is not a burial site as all bodies were exhumed in 1957’.

However Peter Tyldesley, a lecturer at the University of Exeter who has family ties to the town, says extensive research he has undertaken leads him to believe that a large number of bodies are still buried in the graveyard.

He said: “I have researched the site extensively, and considering that most Tyldesley residents will have an ancestor buried at the site they should urge the council to step in before this community venue is sold for financial gain.

“I have found that in 1947 a strip of the chapel yard was taken to enable Astley Street to be widened for a bus service. However I have documents that state only 24 graves were affected and the remains of around 85 individuals were transferred elsewhere. There were no further exhumations in 1957 and my research suggests that more than 1,700 individuals are still buried at Tyldesley Top Chapel.”

It has been claimed on social media that a potential buyer wants to convert the site into a restaurant.

Peter added: “What will happen to the bodies if the building is sold for commercial gain?

“I urge the council to ensure the ownership of Tyldesley Top Chapel is secured for the benefit of the community as was originally intended, with a guarantee that the many remaining graves will be treated with respect.”

A council spokesman said: “Tyldesley Top Chapel has never been in council ownership and the issue of whether or not bodies remain buried there is primarily a matter for the owner.

“However the council is aware of the matters raised and is in contact with the owner.”

The building was bought by Cadence Festivals Limited for £50,000 last September after it was awarded £188,200 via the council’s Deal for Communities Investment Fund to use it as a multi- purpose community hub.

The building had a £150,000 price tag on the Rightmove auction, causing residents to question the legality of a sale.

The Journal tried to contact Cadence Festivals Limited about Peter’s claims but was unable to do so.