Charlotte Brontë Revisited

Sophie Franklin

• Publisher: Saraband
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9781912235247
• eBook ISBN: 9781910192399
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: English Literary Criticism
• Index: Literature

Everybody knows Charlotte Brontë. World-famous for her novel Jane Eyre, she's a giant of literature and has been written about in reverential tones in scores of textbooks over the years. But what do we really know about Charlotte? As the famous siblings celebrate their bicentenaries, Charlotte Brontë Revisited looks at Charlotte through 21st-century eyes. Discover the real Charlotte: her private world of convention, rebellion and imagination, and how they shaped her life and writing – including the paranormal, nature, feminism and politics. It's an indispensable guide for students and literature lovers, and emphatically shows why Charlotte is as relevant today as she ever was.

SIX

(Desperately) Seeking Charlotte

YORKSHIRE

Brontë Parsonage Museum, Haworth

Anyone who wants to learn more about the Brontë family should start here. The Brontë Society acquired the property in 1928, when the Haworth-born wool merchant and lifelong Brontë Society member, Sir James Roberts, bought the parsonage and gave the deeds to the Society. Since then, it has become the hub of all things Brontë – whether you want to see the family’s possessions, to read about 19th-century Haworth, or to delve deeper into the siblings’ childhood pastimes, this is the museum for you. It is also a fantastic research base, housing the largest Brontë collection in the world. (See illustration on chapter opening page.)

Scarborough

In May 1849, Charlotte and her best friend Ellen Nussey accompanied Anne Brontë to Scarborough, in the hope that the sea air would improve her health. Sadly, it did not. On 28 May 1849, Anne died at the Wood’s Lodgings, No.2 The Cliffs. Today, a blue plaque marks the location of these lodgings, where the Grand Hotel now stands. Anne is buried at St Mary’s Church on Castle Hill, where you can pay your respects at her original gravestone and the new one laid by the Brontë Society in 2011.

Filey

After Anne’s death in Scarborough, Charlotte and Ellen moved eight miles down the coast to Filey to recuperate. They stayed at Cliff House on Belle Vue Street, where Charlotte returned in 1852, this time alone, to recover from a bout of ill health and to visit Anne’s grave, three years on from her death. Charlotte wrote to Ellen of her decision to go to Filey by herself: ‘I am at Filey utterly alone. Do not be angry. The step is right.’1 Cliff House is now the Bronte Vinery restaurant and features a special plaque to commemorate Charlotte’s stay.

Thornton

Although the Brontës are most often associated with Haworth, none of the children was born there. Charlotte, Anne, Emily and Branwell were all born in a terraced house on Market Street in the village of Thornton. Situated on the outskirts of Bradford, not far from Haworth, the siblings (except Anne, the baby) spent the first few years of their lives here. In 1820, Patrick left his role as curate at the Old Bell Chapel and the family moved to Haworth. Their house in Thornton is now an Italian café and delicatessen, named after Emily Brontë.

Norton Conyers, Ripon

Charlotte visited Norton Conyers in 1839, where she heard the legend of a mad woman living in a remote attic chamber in the house, a room still known as ‘Mad Mary’s Room’. The similarity between this myth and Bertha Mason’s situation in Jane Eyre has positioned the house as a primary influence for Rochester’s Thornfield Hall. Its inspiration was confirmed in 2004 when, during major renovations, a blocked staircase leading to the attic rooms was discovered. You can visit the recently restored Norton Conyers today and see the resemblance for yourself.

Ponden Hall

Although the connection between the Brontë family and Ponden Hall has been well documented, it has never been confirmed. It’s still a fascinating place to visit, though. Now a B&B, the house once boasted one of the largest private libraries in the West Riding and even housed a Shakespeare First Folio. If Emily and Branwell did regularly visit Ponden Hall, there’s little doubt the library would have been their favourite room. The property was originally built in 1634 for the Heaton family, but the main building was rebuilt in 1801 – the year Wuthering Heights begins. For the full Brontë experience at Ponden Hall, you can book the ‘Earnshaw’ room, with its Wuthering Heights box-bed. And if sleeping in a wooden box-bed is not your thing, you can always have some tea and take a tour.

Salts Mill, Saltaire

The vast Salts Mill and model village of Saltaire was built by Sir Titus Salt in 1853 and, after he and then his son died, it was saved from bankruptcy and taken over by Sir James Roberts – the same Haworth man who bought the Brontë Haworth Parsonage and bequeathed it to the nation. Today, Saltaire is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a cultural haven. Salts Mill has not only exhibitions on the history of Saltaire and the Mill, but also a permanent exhibition of David Hockney’s work. There’s lots of interesting shopping, too: for books, art supplies, musical instruments, antiques, jewellery and textiles, along with a restaurant serving tasty food – definitely worth a day trip.

Red House, Gomersal

Red House was the home of Mary Taylor, one of Charlotte’s best friends whom she met at Roe Head School. Her family were wool merchants, but they were not necessarily wealthy – when he died, Mary’s father left significant debts, leading her to emigrate to New Zealand. It was in this Grade II* listed building, however, that Charlotte and her friend had their heated political debates. It was also the inspiration behind Briarmains, the home of the lively Yor...

Table of contents

• Introduction
• The Life and Works of Charlotte
• Charlotte's Afterlives
• Charlotte In Nature
• Magical Charlotte
• Charlotte And Ideology
• (Desperately) Seeking Charlotte