A trip to Bronte Country

I always have difficulties deciding what to do on my birthday but this year was different, I definitely wanted to see the DH Lawrence House and Museum.  But of course the best laid plans of mice and men - My birthday fell on a Monday, they are both closed on a Monday, so I was back to the same old dilemma - what was I going to do?

Bronte Parsonage

Ever since my 'A' level days I have been in love with the moors, as portrayed by the Bronte sisters in their wonderful novels.  So the decision was made, Hubby and I were off to Howarth to visit the Bronte Parsonage!

And the best thing about it dear readers, (see I'm really getting into this), is that the weather didn't let us down - it was hail-stoning when we arrived.  Proper bleak and gloomy, it was fabulous.  I couldn't have written it better, although I'm sure Charlotte could.

View from the Parsonage garden

The countryside didn't let us down either.  Although a lot of the journey was by motorway we did go through some lovely villages and Howarth Village was wonderful, full of little tea rooms and gift shops, beautiful old churches and history.

View of parsonage from the churchyard

The Parsonage is a series of rooms set out exactly how they would have looked in the 1800's although some changes have been made to the actual rooms themselves, firstly by Charlotte and then by Rev'd John Wade, Mr Bronte's successor, who added the gable wing.

Each room was full of interest, from the dining room, said to contain the actual sofa that Emily died on, to the bedrooms of both Mr Bronte and Charlotte containing their personal possessions, and Branwell's study containing his paintings and poems.  Everywhere there were letters and extracts of writing, samplers and drawings, all from this very creative family. It made me feel humble to realise what they had achieved in their short lifetimes.

I also learn't that Patrick Bronte was an interesting man, I had only thought of him as a father before.  Not only did he campaign for improvements to education, the water supply and sanitation, he also saw these improvements realised during his lifetime.  He actively encourage his children to write and be creative.  But he was also a man who outlived his whole family.

Across from the Parsonage is a small school that Charlotte taught at.

The church is not the original church from the time of the Bronte's but the original tower still exists.

                                        The Bronte's are buried in the crypt
 (except Anne, who is buried in Scarborough).

On the day of the visit a funeral was taking place in the church so were weren't able to enter the crypt.  we did, however, visit Anne's grave in Scarborough a few days later.

Plaque on Anne's grave

All in all it was a lovely day made all the more special by my children taking me out for a meal later that evening.  I have such a wonderful family and feel very blessed.

More Soon - Chez x