Brontë birthplace open day ahead of refurbishment

The birthplace of the Brontë sisters will open to the public later to allow people to have a look inside before it closes for refurbishment.

The terraced house in Market Street, Thornton, is under public ownership after a community group managed to buy it earlier this month.

Authors Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë, along with brother Branwell, were born there between 1816 and 1820.

The house will open from 11:00 BST on Sunday, the anniversary of Charlotte Brontë's birth.

Steve Stanworth, vice chair of the community group Brontë Birthplace Ltd, said there would be a brass band, an actress playing the role of children's maid, Nancy Garrs, and craft activities for children.

There will also be people on hand to talk about the birthplace near Bradford and its history.

Mr Stanworth said St James's Church would also be open from midday to allow access to the Bronte exhibition, with refreshments available in the community centre.

The community group was able to buy the house after more than 700 people invested in the project.

Government grants

It was also given significant grants from Bradford City of Culture 2025 and the Community Ownership Fund, under the government's levelling up agenda.

It will now be refurbished and opened to the public in time for Bradford 2025.

Charlotte, Patrick Branwell, Emily and Anne were all born in the parlour of the house.

The siblings later went on to write poetry and novels, with the women originally writing under pen names.

Some of their most famous works include Emily's Wuthering Heights, Charlotte's Jane Eyre and Anne's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

More stories like this

• Brontë birthplace purchase completed

• Bronte sisters' birthplace 'saved' by funding

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.