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Home , Catherine Earnshaw, East Riddlesden Hall, Ellen Nussey, Gomersal, Hartshead, High Sunderland Hall

experience the brontës in pennine pennineyorkshire.com

The information in this guide is believed to be correct at the time of going to press, November 2009. The Tourism Partnership cannot be held responsible for any errors.

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Bronte Guide_13.indd 28-1 26/11/09 11:05:45 Bronte Guide_13.indd 2-3 2. introduction introduction T 26. 24. 22. 16. 14. 12. 10. 6. 4. 2. contents imagination roam free. roam imagination the Brontës – now come, Penninestay and Yorkshire let your ownwas the land which once inspiredwho wish to see it. stark grandeur of this landlandscape is revealed has re-emerged once again triumphant.transformation. for all The beauty As the and industrialYorkshire age today has withdrawn, has undergonedoesn’t the an need astonishing to be a solemnA visitpilgrimage, in the Pennine footsteps of the talented Brontë Yorkshire Pennine foryou to discover.sisters intriguing echoes of the are there you’ll find, As unfolds. theBrontë story where Brontë family in other areasCharlotte, of Emily and Anne.the But world it’s tonot , just Haworth to It’spay tributenot surprising to the thatmemory visitors of come from all too. them in is recorded revolution, industrial around turbulent times when thisreflected land was inthe their cradle writings. of thewild Our beauty heritage, of our the heather sometimeswith moorlands, Pennine are Yorkshire. to be found Our landscapes, including the

passionate novels they wrotehe names will of be the linked three forever Brontë sisters and the Brontës on screen Brontës on Brontë Way of theBrontësEchoes Country of Brontë Country Map Valley Calder The Haworth Moor of Brontë Country theheart Haworth: of theBrontës story The contents and Introduction

Photo: Davy Ellis Davy Photo: church Haworth Stained glass window, Brontë Charlotte bottom): to (top page This Opposite: pennineyorkshire.com

26/11/09 11:05:47 3. pennineyorkshire.com the story the story of the brontës

atrick, father of Charlotte, Emily and Anne, was Pa man driven by ambition. Born in County Down in 1777, he quickly left his humble origins far behind, becoming an undergraduate at St. John’s College, Cambridge. He also left his humble surname of Brunty behind too, changing it to the more impressive sounding ‘Brontë’.

Tall and slim with red hair, he was a clergyman with a campaigning streak to his personality. His life saw much family tragedy. He married in 1812 but all of his six children died young: Emily died at just 30 years old, Branwell at 31 and Anne at 29, all of tuberculosis. Charlotte died just short of her 39th birthday. Two older sisters had died as children. Patrick’s wife Maria also died in her thirties.

Opposite: But Patrick and Maria brought into the world three girls Penistone Hill, Haworth Photo: Ian Howard whose prodigious talent would ensure that the Brontë name is known worldwide. Charlotte’s novel , This page (top to bottom): Bell Chapel, Thornton Emily’s and Anne’s The Tenant of Photo: Richard Cruise Wildfell Hall, together with their other writings, are

Tapestry detail: outstanding contributions to English literature, enjoyed Photo: Andrew Hinkinson-Hodnett as much today as they were when first written.

4. 5.

Bronte Guide_13.indd 4-5 26/11/09 11:05:50 Bronte Guide_13.indd 6-7 6. haworth haworth H H year. the through run offers special and available rates Group Adult £6.50, Concessions •[email protected] •www.bronte.org.uk 323 £5.00, 642 •Tel: 01535 8DR BD22 , ChildHaworth, £3.50, ES40 £4.00, Family £15.00. rest of theworld. town which draws visitorstoo from of whatacross it Britainhas become andHaworth today,the celebrates a fascinating its BrontëPennine heritage, but it’slocally proud produced) food. restaurants are here too,shops, serving waiting good quality to be (andbrowsed.Main often StreetTea-shops, is home pubs to and a of theBrontë family. cobbled thestory steep telling The wealth of small independentfamous museum, run by a aworld- become has Parsonage charitable The different. more be trust dedicated lifeto expectancy was low.here, Today, Haworth the wascontrast a crowded Patrick Brontë was when thetime theclergyman couldDuring industrial not township, where inspiration. their and wasplayground their both moorland of wild vast sweep romantic novels were penned.beside Just the outside dark graveyard,the town,family thewas wherehome from the 1820sisters’ to hundred 1861.great Here, feet inup thein the Parsonage Pennines, Wutheringin Heights which was the Brontë also regularly changing exhibitions and special events. special and exhibitions changing regularly also lives, full of fascinatingand treasurespersonal possessions. as well as interactiveThethe museumBrontës has displayslived an extensive in forare families.largely exhibition unchanged There on are theand Brontësare filled with their furniture, clothes 10am-5.30pm April to September April 1

Brontës as wasaworth with Catherinetoday is Earnshawas entwined with the story of the giving a wonderful insightaworth into domesticParsonage life still in retainsthe nineteenth the powerful century. atmosphere The rooms of the Brontës’ own time, brontë parsonage museum the heartof brontë country . It was this small town, eight 11am-5pm October to March 2-31 Jan&24–27 Dec Closed pennineyorkshire.com Heights (East Hall) Riddlesden (East Heights (Charlotte Riley) outside Wuthering Edgar (Andrew Lincoln) and Cathy bottom): to (top page This Museum Parsonage Brontë the now Parsonage, Haworth Opposite: Production for ITVandScreen Yorkshire Wuthering Heights -aMammoth Screen

1st Jan12pm-5pm Open

26/11/09 11:05:51 7. pennineyorkshire.com haworth

2 st michael and all angels church Church Street, Haworth, BD22 8EF Open: 9.30am – dusk

he Brontë vault is inside the current church T (dating from 1879), and holds the remains of all the Brontë family except Anne, who is buried in the churchyard of St Mary’s, Scarborough. The position of the vault is indicated with a memorial plaque.

3 black bull 119 Main Street, Haworth BD22 8DP • Tel: 01535 642 249

he Black Bull public house was the haunt of TBranwell Brontë, brother of Charlotte, Emily and Anne. His chair can be found in the dining area and nearby is an original bell-pull of the period.

4 weavers restaurant with rooms 15 West Lane, Haworth, Keighley, BD22 8DU Tel 01535 643 822 • www.weaversmallhotel.co.uk

ach 19th December, the anniversary of EEmily Brontë’s death, diners in the Weavers Restaurant wait for the arrival of the ‘grey lady’. This apparition is reputed to appear only on this day, moving through the restaurant before disappearing into one of the walls (original plans of the building show an old staircase here).

5 the old apothecary 84 Main Street, Haworth, BD22 8DP Tel: 01535 646 830 • www.rose-apothecary.co.uk

he Old Apothecary, where once Branwell Brontë Tobtained laudanum, is a shop which feels like a Opposite: museum, fragranced with exotic oils, and packed The Old Apothecary, from floor to ceiling with rich mahogany and glass Haworth display cases. This page (top to bottom): St. Michael and All Angels Church, Haworth

The Black Bull, Haworth 8. 9.7.

Bronte Guide_13.indd 8-9 26/11/09 11:05:56 pennineyorkshire.com haworth moor the brontës’ muse he wild Pennine landscape plays almost as central Ta role in Wuthering Heights as does the brooding haworth moor haworth character of Heathcliff. Emily felt the spirit of this land: ‘Every leaf speaks bliss to me’, she once wrote.

Today, the beautiful countryside once roamed by Emily and her sisters is there for all to discover. Our moors are a walker’s delight (the comes this way, for example), whilst mountain bikers work up a sweat on the many historic bridleways which crisscross the hills.

7 top withens

or a real taste of Pennine countryside, continue F another mile or so beyond the Brontë Bridge to find the ruined farmhouse Top Withens. High up on Haworth Moor, Top Withens is thought to be the location Emily Brontë had in mind for the site of the house Wuthering Heights, although the building bears little resemblance to the one she describes in the novel.

It’s a windswept place, but one with its own stark beauty. The interesting outcrop of rocks known as the Alcomden Stones are close at hand, and well worth a detour.

8 ponden kirk 1 kilometre north of Top Withens, Moor

here’s no church at Ponden Kirk, just a large block Tof dark gritstone which in times past was thought to have magical properties. Emily named the rock Penistone Crags, and it was this that she chose as the 6 location in Wuthering Heights for Cathy and Heathcliff brontë falls and charlotte’s seat to meet. Opposite: Haworth Moor short walk from Haworth will bring you to Penistone Country Park and the edge Photo: Steve Calcott of the heather moorlands which the Brontë sisters knew so well. From there it’s At the base of Ponden Kirk is a hole just large enough A for an adult to climb through, described by Emily as This page (top to bottom): a three mile round trip to the little waterfall which bears the Brontë name. The falls Haworth Moor tumble down the hillside to where an attractive stone bridge – the Brontë Bridge - the Fairy Cave. Local legend has it that, if you’re single Photo: Felix Macpherson and you crawl through the hole, you will marry within crosses South Dean Beck. This picturesque spot is a great place to stop for a picnic. Top Withens Don’t miss the nearby rock ‘chair’, where Charlotte Brontë is said to have enjoyed the year. Photo: Craig Wetherall coming to sit and meditate. 10. 11.

Bronte Guide_13.indd 10-11 26/11/09 11:05:58 pennineyorkshire.com halifax the calder valley and halifax he Brontë sisters’ only brother, Branwell, was Ta potentially talented portrait artist and poet. Unfortunately, he ended life dependent on drink and drugs. In 1840 he sought employment in the Calder Valley near Halifax, working in Sowerby Bridge and later in Luddenfoot as an official on the newly-opened railway.

Branwell spent many happy hours exploring the upper Calder Valley countryside, sometimes accompanied by a noted local geologist Rev. Sutcliffe Sowden from Hebden Bridge. Then, the Calder Valley was a place of industry and work. Today, narrowboats nuzzle together in the attractive wharf at Sowerby Bridge, whilst the pedestrianised streets of Hebden Bridge (recently declared to have the ‘least cloned’ high street in Britain) hold a wealth of small specialist shops. The Calder Valley countryside which Branwell knew is enjoyed by new generations of visitors who love the outdoors.

Halifax, which Branwell also knew well (he associated with the town’s respected artists, musicians and writers), has also undergone a remarkable transformation since his day. The eighteenth century Piece Hall is one of Pennine Yorkshire’s finest buildings, whilst the nearby nonconformist Square Chapel is now a lively arts centre. Families today make a beeline for the award-winning Eureka! - The National Children’s 9 hall Museum, providing stimulation and education to its Lister’s Lane, Shibden, Halifax HX3 6XG • Tel: 01422 352 246 young visitors of a kind which the Brontë children surely shibden.hall@.gov.uk • www.calderdale.gov.uk could never have imagined. Prices: Adults: £3.50, Concs: £2.50, Family (2 + 2): £10.00, Group of 10 or more: £2.50 per person March to November December to February Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm Monday to Saturday 10am-4pm Sunday 12pm-5pm Sunday 12pm-4pm ust outside Halifax, is a beautiful house dating back to 1420 which Opposite: Jis now a fascinating museum. It holds surviving decorative stonework from the Shibden Hall demolished , a place with strong Brontë connections: High This page (top to bottom): Sunderland is believed to have been the model for Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, House Body, Shibden Hall though she relocated the house from Horley Green near Halifax to the moorland Branwell Brontë setting of Top Withens near Haworth. 12. 13.7.

Bronte Guide_13.indd 12-13 26/11/09 11:05:59 pennineyorkshire.com map of brontë country

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?Xnfik_ AD 8 ponden kirk 14 clough house, hightown ANE OUSEL 9 15 EH shibden hall st. peter’s church, hartshead BRIDG 10 red house, 16 all saints,

11 oakwell hall, birstall 17 bell chapel, thornton

12 st. peter’s church, birstall 18 , keighley

13 healds hall, 19 14. 15.

Bronte Guide_13.indd 14-15 26/11/09 11:06:00 Bronte Guide_13.indd 16-17 16. shirley country browsing in the museum shop for books, toys interesting gifts. and forbooks, shop themuseum in browsing the ‘Spen Valley Stories’Spen gallery Valley and instroll ‘The Secret’sthe roomsrestored Out’and exhibition1830soriginal gardens. furniture. in Endthewinning yourOld Find Barn.museumvisit out Experience more looks about much localCharlotte’s asvisited theTaylor (the family ‘Yorkes’ Today novel)it the1830s. her in in thislife award- would in connectionshave done inwith Charlotte’s the time, with period public and should not be missed. be not should and public (featured Shirley Hall in of Oakwell (Mary Taylor’s home) andin the the Elizabethan Brontë story. manor Beautiful houseimportance Red of House the inSpen Gomersal ValleyEven and dedicated its surrounding Brontë students area can overlook the Taylor Gomersal. Mary and and Nussey Birstall in Ellen her schooldays and from visitingRawfolds herMill lifelong in 1812. friends Charlotteat Hartshead knew churchthis area when bothhe curate was her for the the Patrick, from father hand first Ludditesfrom attacked nearbyCharlotte Brontë would have heard the Luddite Spen the storyand Valley. doomed rebellion, from Marsdenown timeand Huddersfieldof industrial to change.livelihood. Follow The theLuddite path nameofviolent their still action resonates in a bittertoday,when struggle in the our highly-skilled to try to protect croppers1811 theirand (cloth 1812 against shearers) the backdrop took of the Luddite riots, shirleycountry C A red.house@.gov.uk • www.kirklees.gov.uk/museums •Tel: 100 01274 335 4JP BD19 Gomersal, Road, Oxford 10 Monday to Friday free -admission round year Open when it was published in Brontë’s1849.harlotte Shirley The novel is set in

significant role both in Charlotte’s life and in her novel her Shirley in both in Charlotte’s lifeand role significant s the home of Charlotte’s close lifelong friend Mary Taylor, Red House played a red house, gomersal redhouse, gomersal the land the luddites roamed 11am-5pm caused a real sensation ) are today open to the Saturday &Sunday

pennineyorkshire.com Oakwell Hall Taylor Mary bottom): to (top page This House Red Opposite: 12pm-5pm . Charlotte often

26/11/09 11:06:02 17. pennineyorkshire.com shirleycountry

11 oakwell hall, birstall Nutter Lane, Birstall, , WF17 9LG • Tel: 01924 326 240 [email protected] • www.kirklees.gov.uk/museums Adults: £2.00, Children: £1.00, Family: £5.50

Open year round Monday to Friday 11am-5pm Saturday & Sunday 12pm-5pm

uilt in 1583 and set in 100 acres of parkland, the Bsplendid Elizabethan manor house of Oakwell Hall inspired Charlotte’s description of Fieldhead in Shirley; the home of heroine Shirley Keeldar.

Today, visitors can still see many of the features Charlotte described in her novel as they explore the fascinating period rooms and stroll through the gardens. The Green Flag award-winning Country Park also includes waymarked walks and nature trails, picnic sites, playground, gift shop, café and a newly refurbished Countryside Centre.

Visitors may also recognise Oakwell Hall from its starring role in the recent ITV1 adaptation of Emily Brontë’s novel Wuthering Heights.

12 st peter’s church, birstall Kirkgate, Kings Drive, Birstall, WF17 9JJ Tel: 01924 478 560 (to arrange access to the church)

harlotte attended Birstall church when visiting C her friends Mary Taylor and and the vicar inspired Charlotte’s character ‘Mr Hall’, the Rector in Shirley. The church was rebuilt in 1865-71, but the old tower remains.

Opposite: Oakwell Hall

This page (top to bottom): Grand Parlour Room, Oakwell Hall

St. Peter’s Church, Birstall 18. 19.

Bronte Guide_13.indd 18-19 26/11/09 11:06:04 pennineyorkshire.com

14 clough house, hightown (Private residence – plaque above the door) Halifax Road, Hightown, Liversedge. shirley country shirley harlotte’s newly married parents, Patrick Cand Maria, lived in this three-storey house from 1812-15 when Patrick was curate at nearby Hartshead. Their first two children, Maria and Elizabeth, were born here.

(Please note this is a private residence. Please respect the privacy of the owners.)

15 st. peter’s church, hartshead (Nunnely Church in Shirley) Church Lane, Hartshead, WF15 8EU

harlotte’s father was curate here at the time of Cthe Luddite attack on Rawfolds Mill in 1812. It was also where Charlotte’s eldest sister, Maria, was baptised. The church, set in tranquil countryside, was rebuilt in 1881 but the original tower remains.

16 all saints, dewsbury (Dewsbury Minster) Rishworth Road, Dewsbury, WF12 8DD • Tel: 01924 457 057 www.dewsburyminster.org.uk

Open year round Monday to Saturday 9am-3pm

atrick Brontë was curate of All Saints Church P(now Dewsbury Minster) from 1809–1811. In 1810, his poem entitled ‘Winter Evening Thoughts’ was published and was the first piece of Brontë 13 healds hall, liversedge literature to be seen in print. A memorial plaque Opposite: Road, Liversedge, WF15 6JA • Tel: 01924 409 112 in Patrick’s memory can be found on the South Healds Hall [email protected] • www.healdshall.co.uk Aisle of the Minster. Visit the Heritage Centre This page (top to bottom): to find out more or stop for refreshments in the Clough House he former home of the forceful Reverend Hammond Roberson, an active opponent Photo: Humphrey Bolton Refectory Café. Tof the Luddites, is now the Healds Hall Hotel. Charlotte Brontë met Reverend St. Peter’s Church, Hartshead Roberson only once but heard many stories about him, and based the strong character Photo: Craig Battye Mr Helstone in Shirley on him. All Saints, Dewsbury 20. 21.

Bronte Guide_13.indd 20-21 26/11/09 11:06:07 pennineyorkshire.com thornton echoes of the brontës thornton and keighley 17 bell chapel, thornton

efore moving to Haworth, Patrick Brontë was the Bparson in Thornton for five years between 1815 and 1820, and it was in Thornton that four of the Brontë children were born. The old parsonage where the Brontës lived can be found in Market Street, Thornton, close to the Bell Chapel originally erected in 1612 and rebuilt by Patrick. Sadly, little more than a part of the east window survives today. The old font, in which all the Brontë children except Maria (the eldest) were baptised, has been moved to the nearby new church.

18 east riddlesden hall, keighley Road, Keighley, West Yorkshire BD20 5EL Tel: 01535 607 075 • [email protected] www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Open 27th Feb - Oct 31st Saturday to Wednesday 11am-5pm Tours in operation at some times. Entrance fee applicable.

ast Riddlesden Hall is a 17th century West Riding Emanor house with formal and wild gardens, duckpond and grounds. A National Trust property, the hall may look surprisingly familiar for anyone who saw ITV1’s popular adaptation of Wuthering Heights, for it was East Riddlesden which was used for the exterior shots. East Riddlesden Hall offers an interesting events programme, as well as a popular tearoom and shop.

19 ponden hall Stanbury, Keighley, BD22 OHR

riginally dating from 1634, Ponden Hall, near Opposite: OStanbury is generally thought to be the house The Old Bell Chapel, Thornton Photo: Richard Cruise Emily Brontë called Thrushcross Grange, home of the Linton family in Wuthering Heights. Today, Pennine Way This page (top to bottom): Datestone, The Old Bell Chapel hikers pass close by what is now a private residence. Photo: Tim Green

East Riddlesden Hall 22. 23.

Bronte Guide_13.indd 22-23 26/11/09 11:06:10 pennineyorkshire.com brontë way

oak up the atmosphere of the Brontë

brontë way brontë Slandscapes first hand. Get your walking shoes on and follow the Brontë Way, a waymarked trail which links key locations associated with the Brontë family.

The full forty mile walk will take you from Oakwell Hall in Birstall across to in Lancashire, visiting on the way the Spen Valley (where Shirley was set), the wild moorland scenes associated with Wuthering Heights and the town of Haworth itself. Whether you’re planning the full distance or a shorter stroll, you’ll find plenty to enjoy in the beautiful countryside the Opposite: The Brontë Way Brontë sisters knew so well. More information and a pack (£2) can be obtained at the Haworth This page (top to bottom): Ponden Kirk Tourist Information Centre, or look out for the Photo: Nigel Flory

comprehensive guide Brontë Way by Paul Hannon reservoir (Hillside Publications, £4.50). Photo: Ian Howard

24. 25.

Bronte Guide_13.indd 24-25 26/11/09 11:06:13 on screen 27.

26/11/09 11:06:15 Wuthering Heights - a Mammoth Screen Production for ITV and Screen Yorkshire Screen and ITV for Production Screen Mammoth a - Heights Wuthering

. Tom Hardy starred starred Hardy Tom . here have been many film and television adaptations adaptations television and film characters many been central have the here with novels, Brontë the of being played by some of the world’s most acclaimed acclaimed most world’s the of 1 some ITV by popular played the being was recent most The actors. Heights adaptation Wuthering of as the brooding Heathcliff, while Charlotte played Riley Earnshaw. Catherine spectacularly was novel including gothic and Yorkshire, haunting across This Earnshaw’s locations the as using Hall recreated Oakwell and Hall the about more Riddlesden out East Find home. family moorland locations used Pennine and discover Yorkshire. Main Haworth Street, 01535 642 329 Tel: [email protected] Email: For all the information you need to plan and book your your book and plan to need you information the all For Centre Pennine in the Brontës’ stay Yorkshire. Information Tourist our be to will in call staff helpful and Alternatively, make friendly and our where knowledge Haworth their at share you, advise to happy special. extra stay your Information Centre Haworth Tourist www.pennineyorkshire.com T plan your visit your plan brontës on screen on brontës

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Cathy (Charlotte Riley), Heathcliff (Tom (Tom Heathcliff Riley), (Charlotte Cathy Lincoln) (Andrew Edgar and Hardy) Park) (Stockeld Grange The inside This page (top to bottom): Edgar (Andrew Lincoln) outside The Grange (Stockeld Park near Wetherby) Opposite: pennineyorkshire.com 26. Bronte Guide_13.indd 26-27