In the picturesque village of Haworth in West Yorkshire stands an unassuming Georgian house that once belonged to one of the most remarkable literary families in history. The Brontë Parsonage Museum, home to the Brontë sisters from 1820 to 1861, offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives, times and enduring legacy of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë.
A Family of Scribes
The story of the Brontës begins with Patrick Brontë, an Irish clergyman who moved his young family to Haworth when he was appointed curate of the local church in 1820. His children – five daughters and a son – were bright, creative and largely educated at home. Tragedy struck early with the death of the two eldest daughters, Maria and Elizabeth, from tuberculosis in 1825.
The four remaining siblings, Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne, grew up in the parsonage under the watchful eye of their aunt Elizabeth Branwell, who came to help care for the household after their mother‘s death in 1821. Despite the family‘s relative isolation and limited means, the Brontë children enjoyed a rich intellectual upbringing, with access to their father‘s extensive library and the freedom to roam the dramatic moors surrounding Haworth.[^1]
From a young age, the Brontës entertained themselves by crafting intricate imaginary worlds and filling countless miniature books with stories, poems and plays. These juvenile creations hinted at the astonishing talents that would later blossom into some of the most beloved novels in the English language.
The Path to Literary Greatness
As young women in early Victorian England, the paths available to the Brontë sisters were limited. All three worked as governesses or teachers at various points, experiences that would deeply inform their writings on the restricted lives of 19th century women. In 1846, the sisters took a daring step by jointly publishing a volume of poetry under the androgynous pseudonyms Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell, to avoid prejudice against female authors.[^2]
While their poetry garnered little notice, the Brontës persevered and the following year each published a novel – Charlotte‘s Jane Eyre, Emily‘s Wuthering Heights and Anne‘s Agnes Grey. These works, particularly Jane Eyre, achieved both critical and commercial success, though the true identities of the "Bell brothers" remained a mystery.
Sadly, triumph was soon overshadowed by tragedy. In September 1848, Branwell died from tuberculosis exacerbated by drug and alcohol addiction. Emily succumbed to the same disease just three months later, and Anne followed in May 1849. Charlotte, the last surviving sibling, continued to write, publishing two more novels, Shirley (1849) and Villette (1853). She married her father‘s curate, Arthur Bell Nicholls, in 1854 but died less than a year later at the age of 38, possibly from complications of pregnancy.[^3]
The Making of a Museum
After Charlotte‘s death, Rev. Brontë and Arthur Nicholls continued to live in the parsonage. Following Rev. Brontë‘s death in 1861, the house passed to a subsequent curate. By the late 19th century, the Brontës‘ novels and poetry were widely read and admired, fueling growing public interest in the sisters‘ lives and home.
In 1893, a group of Brontë enthusiasts founded the Brontë Society, one of the oldest literary societies in the world, to collect and preserve manuscripts, letters, and personal effects relating to the family.[^4] In 1928, the Society purchased the parsonage and opened it as a museum, which has since welcomed visitors from all over the world.
Exploring the Museum
Stepping into the Brontë Parsonage Museum is like stepping back in time. The rooms have been carefully maintained and furnished to appear as they would have during the Brontës‘ residence. Visitors can view the family‘s well-worn furniture, Charlotte‘s writing desk, Emily‘s artwork, Anne‘s sewing box, and Branwell‘s portrait of his sisters, among hundreds of other artifacts.[^5]
The museum houses the world‘s largest collection of Brontë manuscripts, letters, early editions and personal possessions, offering unparalleled insight into the sisters‘ lives, relationships and creative processes.[^6] Highlights include:
- Charlotte‘s hand-written manuscript of Jane Eyre
- Emily‘s diary papers detailing the imaginary world of Gondal
- Anne‘s Bible, inscribed with her name and a quote from Proverbs
- The Brontës‘ childhood "little books" filled with tiny handwriting
- Charlotte‘s wedding dress and accessories
- Locks of the sisters‘ hair
In addition to the main exhibition rooms, the museum also features a research library, a gift shop with books and souvenirs, and a charming café serving Yorkshire specialties. The pretty garden behind the house contains plants mentioned in the sisters‘ writings.
Throughout the year, the museum hosts special exhibitions, talks, workshops and events exploring different aspects of the Brontës‘ lives and works and their cultural context. Recent exhibitions have focused on themes such as the Brontës and the railways, Victorian literature and imperialism, and the science of the Brontës.[^7]
The Brontë Legacy
Over a century after their deaths, the Brontë sisters and their novels continue to resonate with readers around the world. Works like Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights have inspired countless adaptations in film, television, theater and even ballet. The Brontës‘ influence can be seen in genres from Gothic romance to feminist literature to young adult fiction.
Perhaps more than any other female authors of their time, the Brontës shattered stereotypes of women as passive and domestic creatures. Their bold, passionate heroines and searing social critiques laid bare the limitations placed on women in Victorian society. Through their writing, Charlotte, Emily and Anne forged new possibilities of self-expression for generations of women to come.
The survival of the Brontë Parsonage and its contents is nothing short of miraculous, a testament to the dedication of Brontë Society members and museum staff over many decades. Visitor Eric N. wrote in a recent TripAdvisor review, "You don‘t have to know much about the Brontës to appreciate this place. There‘s a real feeling of history and presence here…The current curators have struck the perfect balance between preserving the house as it was and providing modern displays and information for visitors."[^8]
For me, as a scholar of 19th century British literature and a lifelong Brontë devotee, visiting the parsonage was a deeply moving experience. To see the humble rooms where Charlotte, Emily and Anne poured out their souls on paper, to examine the tiny books they scribbled as children, to stand at the same windows through which they gazed upon the wild moors, brought their genius into vivid focus. I felt keenly the weight of their struggles and triumphs, and the inestimable gift of the words they left behind.
Visiting the Brontë Parsonage Museum
The Brontë Parsonage Museum is open daily except January 4-31. Hours vary by season. Admission in 2024 is £12.50 for adults and £7.50 for children. Family and group tickets are available. The museum is located in the center of Haworth, about a 10-minute walk from the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway and Haworth Station. Trains run regularly from Leeds, Bradford and Keighley to Haworth Station. Drivers can park in the Haworth Parsonage Car Park adjacent to the museum or in the larger Haworth Village car park. For more information, visit bronte.org.uk.[^9]
Whether you‘re a devoted Brontë fan or simply interested in exploring the lives and works of these extraordinary women, a visit to the Brontë Parsonage Museum is an experience you won‘t soon forget. To walk in the footsteps of literary giants, to glimpse the sources of some of the most beloved stories in the world, is a rare privilege indeed. The Brontës‘ legacy endures not only on bookshelves worldwide but in the unassuming stone house on the edge of the moors that fostered their genius and now invites us to remember.
