13th October 2008 - by Ann Coveney
Visit Yorkshire and Explore Bronte Country
Irish Anglican clergyman Patrick Bronte married Maria Branwell
in 1812. Together they had six children. The first two children
died aged 10 and 11. Charlotte, Patrick, Emily and Anne
survived into their early thirties. They were to become the
most remarkable family of writers Yorkshire had ever
produced.
Charlotte, Patrick, Emily and Anne were born in the village of
Thornton, west of Bradford, where Patrick was parson. The
parsonage still stands today and is lived in by writer Barbara
Whitehead. She is lovingly restoring the house to its regency
glory.
It was in Haworth however, that the Bronte's grew up and
produced their writings.
Inspired by their writer parents and the bleak backdrop of the
Yorkshire moors, the three girls wrote copiously from an early
age. In 1847 the girls finally published their most famous
novels. Charlotte's Jane Eyre, Emily's Wuthering Heights and
Anne's Agnes Grey, all became best sellers. Alas, the girls
were destined to die young. Emily never completed another novel
and died aged 30, followed by Anne aged 29 and finally
Charlotte age 39, just a year after marriage.
Their father outlived them all and collaborated with their good
friend Elizabeth Gaskell on Charlotte's biography.
Haworth
Today you can visit Haworth and the parsonage where the Brontes
once lived. The village itself is too pretty for words with
cute little cottages, cobbled streets, Victorian shop fronts
and olde worlde pubs. During the Christmas season there is a
Victorian market on the main street and if your there at the
right time, you will enjoy the carol singers. Morris dancers
perform on the cobbled streets. The sound of their studded
shoes hitting the cobbles and their clubs clashing together,
provide exciting entertainment not normally associated with
'gentle' Morris dancing. This is real macho stuff (despite the
outfits).
The Parsonage
You can visit the parsonage where the Brontes grew up. The
rooms have been restored and the building is now a museum
complete with library. The place provides plenty of atmosphere
for the visitor to soak up. The rooms in which the family lived
were tiny and dark and one can imagine a little scary at night
when they would be lit by candlelight casting shadows and
creating dark corners. This is in stark contrast to the
brightness and space outside. The vast open skies and expanse
of the moorland provided the birthplace of the gothic
novel.
Top Withens
Emily Bronte wrote 'Wuthering Heights' in 1847. Her novel tells
the story of doomed love and revenge. Top Withens has long been
thought to have been the inspiration for her book. The ruined
farmhouse stands on a hill overlooking the moors. Although the
house itself bears little resemblance to the house described in
her book, the situation may well have been in her mind when she
wrote of the moorland setting of the heights. The place has
become a popular attraction for Bronte and Kate Bush fans
alike.
Bronte Waterfall
From the village of Haworth it is worth walking the two and a
half miles to the falls which takes in some interesting
reminders life in the 19th century, including some old coal
mines. The waterfall was frequented by the Brontes and there is
a rock formation in the shape of a chair named after them.
Charlotte recorded a visit here during the winter of 1854 as, a
perfect torrent racing over the rocks, white and beautiful!'
The falls varies from a torrent to a trickle and is best viewed
after heavy rain.
Bronte Chapel
The Bronte Chapel is inside St. Michael and All Angels Church,
Haworth. The old church was originally built in 1655, pulled
down in 1879 and restored in 1962. Here you will find the
Bronte family vault wherein lies buried the Bronte family. The
chapel houses a 17th century communion table and an inscription
where the engraver has mistakenly left out the 'i' in
Christ.
Patrick Bronte lived a long life dying at the grand old age of
84 in the parsonage. He collaborated with famous authoress
Elizabeth Gaskell whose autobiography of Charlotte celebrates
its centenary. There is also a much awaited film being released
in 2007 depicting the life and times of the Bronte family.
For those with any interest in the Bronte's, a visit to the
places that inspired their writing will be a rewarding
experience.
|
Ann Coveney is a freelance writer and part time
school teacher. She can be hired to write
articles on a wide range of topics. The web
site she uses the most for low cost travel and
hotel booking is http://www.AskVicki.co.uk
|
Top of page
|
Article Source: http://www.bb-articles.com
| 
BlinkList
Delicious
Digg
Facebook
Fark
Furl
Google Bookmarks
Livejournal
Ma.gnolia
Netvouz
Newsvine
Reddit
Spurl
Stumbleupon
Wists
Yahoo My Web
