Campaigners in Bradford today appealed to a property investor who bought the Bronte's birthplace on a whim, to keep it as it is.

Lot 53, the terraced house in Market Street, Thornton, Bradford, where Charlotte, Emily and Anne along with their brother Branwell were born, was sold for £180,000 at an auction.

Hundreds of bidders crammed into the banqueting suite of Leeds United's Elland Road ground as more than 80 properties, went under the hammer.

Prior to the sale the £200,000 guide price was reduced to £180,000.

During the auction, the price was further dropped to £177,000, which meant the property was initially not sold. But after bidding closed the buyer, who wanted to remain anonymous, came forward and met the reserve price.

Bill Petch, a consultant for estate agency Eddisons, which held the sale, said the new owner, a man in his late 30s or early 40s who lives in London, was a large property investor who regularly attends its auctions. He said: "The man just bought it on a whim and he doesn't know what to do with it yet, but he has told me that there will be no change to the property and it will still be kept as it is now."

The house has been owned in recent years by Barbara Whitehead, who has written numerous books including one about the lifelong friendship between Charlotte Bronte and Ellen Nussey.

She restored the property into a place which would have been recognised by the Bronte family. But due to ill health she has had to sell it.

After the auction Mrs Whitehead's son Roger Howson said: "I am delighted that the property has reached its reserve price. I am relieved. When it failed to sell, I was so disappointed, but then the purchaser came forward. I hope the owner will continue to make it available to the public."

John Jessop, who has been campaigning for Bradford Council and other groups to take interest in the property, said: "Although I am pleased for Barbara and her son, I am disappointed that the Council did not buy the house as a tourist attraction for the city. I hope whoever buys it keeps the interior as similar to how Barbara has it now. I would hate to think of someone tipping it all out and ruining all the hard work Barbara put in."

Bronte parsonage director Alan Bentley said: "It is good news for the people who have wanted to sell it. But it was a shame that the Bronte society couldn't take it on."

A spokesman for Bradford Council would not comment on why the authority did not bid.

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