At home with the Brontes (The Bronte Parsonage Museum (Haworth))

Member Name: Picasso

Product:	The Bronte Parsonage Museum (Haworth)
Date:	06/03/06 (1190 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Super house in a super town

Disadvantages: Not suitable for young children

The Brontes were the world's most famous literary family and Howarth Parsonage, now the Bronte Parsonage and Museum was their home from 1820 to 1861. Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte were authors of some of the world's best-loved books in the English language. Charlotte's novel "Jane Eyre", Emily's "Wuthering Heights" and Anne's "Tenant of Wildfell Hall were written in this house over a hundred and fifty years ago, yet their power still moves readers today. Charlotte and Emily are ranked among the world's greatest novelists; Anne wass a powerful but somewhat underrated author, and both their father, the Reverend Patrick Bronte, and brother Branwell also saw their own works in print. The Brontes' novels, published under the pseudonyms of Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell, were acknowledge at the time for their directness and powerful emotional energy, qualities that were sometimes interpreted by their critics as "course" and "brutal" Wuthering Heights is among my favourite books. I read it at school and then again more recently. I have seen several film versions and even bought the record by Kate Bush. I also think that Jane Eyre was a great read. It is because of my admiration of these books and the interest in the family as a whole, that I paid a visit to the Bronte Parsonage Museum in Howarth, West Yorkshire.


HOWARTH PARSONAGE

The Parsonage was built in 1778 and when Mr Bronte was appointed Reverend of the church in 1820, the Parsonage came rent free with his new position. The fact that Mr Bronte had no independent means was a source of anxiety, for if his health failed, they stood to lose both income and home. In the event, Patrick outlived all his family. He died in 1861. Over the years several extensions have been made to the rear of the house in order to create more exhibition space. The original Georgian Parsonage is still very much, as the Brontes would have known it. The majority of the rooms are set out in as close an approximation as possible to their appearances in the Brontes' day, and most of the objects and furniture on display belonged to the family. For conservation reasons, the exhibits are changed regularly and as we found, you may not always see what is in the souvenir guide.

Mr Bronte's Study

Once through the entrance hall, the first room we came to was the study where Mr Bronte did most of his parish work. He took many of his meals alone here and a place is set for him at the side table. His books of Psalms and magnifying glass were on the desk before the fire. There was also a small piano, which belonged to his children and was played mainly by Emily.

The Dining Room

This is the room I found carried most interest. It is the room, which the sisters did most of their work. It contains the rocking chair where Anne used to sit with her feet on the fender and the sofa on which Emily died. The room was enlarged by Charlotte when she became a successful writer.

The Kitchen

The kitchen has been reconstructed as far as possible and the original furniture reintroduced. There is a table where Emily made bread every week. Even the utensils and pieces of china on display came from the Bronte household.

Charlotte's Room

This room is at the front of the house and is the bedroom in which Mrs Bronte died in 1821, leaving her small children to be cared for by her sister. Here she taught the girls needlework and domestic skills. I was fascinated to find Charlotte's tiny shoes and a dress so small, you would think that it belonged to a child.

There are several other rooms including Branwell's studio and Mr Bronte's bedroom, I have highlighted the ones that carried the most interest.

The Garden

The layout of the garden is apparently the same as it was in the Bronte's day. The garden has been planted with shrubs and flowers of that period in an effort to recreate an authentic Victorian setting. Our first visit was early summer, we returned again in the autumn. On both occasions we felt like we were walking around the original garden and taken back in time.

The Exhibition Rooms

These rooms contain "The Brontes; a family history" which tells the story of the lives and works of the family. Sadly all the women died young. Included in the memorabilia is a collection of mourning items and Charlotte Bronte's funeral card. Charlottes was in the early stages of pregnancy when she died just before her 39th birthday. Their father lived to age 84.

It was amazing to see actual early writings, poems and scribbles from all three women. I hadn't realised until my visit that all three of them painted really well too and their paintings were also on display.

The shop

Lots of merchandise can be found here including dvd's of films taken from their novels, all their books and some excellent biographies. I bought one by Juliet Barker, which is extremely informative. I also bought "Wuthering Heights" and "Jane Eyre" on dvd.

My thoughts

Visiting the home in which these remarkable women spent most of their lives provides a fascinating insight into the freedoms and restrictions of the time, in which they lived and therefore gain a deeper understanding of their novels. I have been twice now in a relatively short time and found the visits very moving. Although children are allowed at all ages, personally, I think that any child under 10 would find most of it a little boring. As well as the displays, there is a lot to read and I don't think there is enough to hold their attention. For older children and adults, it makes for a great afternoon out.

PRICE

£4.90 adults
£3.60 oap's and students
£1.60 children up to age 16.

OPENING TIMES

10-5.30 April-September
11-5 October-March

Closed 24-27 December

AROUND AND ABOUT

You will need at least two hours to see all there is at the Parsonage. Spend some time too in Howarth itself, it is a marvellous place with lots of character and lots of history. And why not wander on to those wonderful moors, they are eerie but beautiful and they were the inspiration for perhaps the best known of all Bronte novels "Wuthering Heights"

Summary: A fascinating home