| The George Inn was situated at 19 Coney Street. This pub has now been demolished and replaced by a Next store. |
| According to a plaque on the
wall: 'In Elizabethan times, Ralph Rokeby Esq (d.1575) Secretary of the Council
of the North lived in a house on this site. Subsequently for about two and a
half centuries there existed here a Hostelry known since 1614 as the George Inn,
from which horsedrawn coaches departed to Hull, Manchester and Newcastle. The
sisters Charlotte and Anne Bronte stayed here in 1849. Leak & Thorp moved to
this site in 1869. 'closedpubs |
In February, Anne seemed somewhat better. In March, Ellen Nussey invited her
to Brookroyd, to be nursed by Ellen and her sisters. Anne made a
counter-proposal. Through Charlotte, she asked if Ellen would accompany her to
Scarborough. Anne had always loved the sea there, and there was some slight hope
that the climate might be beneficial. Charlotte chose to ignore Anne's own
wishes, and argue against the plan, suggesting that it would be better to wait.
Anne feared that she had little time to waste, and wrote to Ellen herself,
asking her help and painstakingly refuting counter-arguments. She speaks clearly
and calmly of her illness and of death.
"I have a more serious reason than this for my impatience of delay: the doctors say that change of air or removal to a better climate would hardly ever fail of success in consumptive cases if taken in time, but the reason why there are so many disappointments is, that it is generally deferred till it is too late. Now I would not commit this error; and to say the truth, thouhg I suffer much less from pain and fever than I did when you were with us, I am decidedly weaker and very much thinner my cough still troubles me a good deal, especially in the night, and, what seems worse than all, I am subject to great shortness of breath on going up stairs or any slight exertion. Under these circumstances I think there is no time to be lost... I have no horror of death: if I thought it inevitable I think I could quietly resign myself to the prospect... But I wish it would please God to spare me not only for Papa's and Charlotte's sakes, but because I long to do some good in the world before I leave it. I have many schemes in my head for future practise–humble and limited indeed–but still I should not like them all to come to nothing, and myself to have lived to so little purpose. But God's will be done. " (Barker, p 589)
Though ill, Anne's strength of will was the equal of Charlotte's. In the end
Patrick intervened, removing Charlotte's last defense against the plan by
stating his willingness to be left with the servants in Haworth, and requesting
that Charlotte accompany Anne. On May 24, 1849, Anne said her good-byes to her
father and the servants at Haworth, and set off for Scarborough with Charlotte
and Ellen. They stayed overnight in York, gratifying Anne's desire to see her
beloved York Minster. Anne found great joy in returning to York and Scarborough,
and showing well-loved places to Charlotte and Ellen. However, it was clear that
Anne had little strength left. edu/women/bronte/bronte-anne
Excellent post . It's great to see the old images...one can hear the horse teams when viewing them!
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI'm really glad Anne got her wish and had this last adventure. So much better and happier than waiting for death at the parsonage. She had so many dreams deferred, it's wonderful this last one came true. Anne was a Bronte after all and they were a determined lot!
But I don't blame Charlotte for fighting the idea. Everyone knew Anne would die during the trip and it would be would be a crushing responsibility on Charlotte's own. However once Patrick agreed and intervened, then the responsibility was shared with him and it also then became a duty, and Charlotte could "get on board " with the idea.
But it didn't sit well with Charlotte that Anne was buried seperate from the rest of the family and she periodically thought about bringing Anne home. I believe her father and then later, her husband dissuaded her from the idea.