Brontë Studies. Volume 40, Issue 2

Brontë Studies. Volume 40, Issue 2

Editorial
pp. iii-iv Author: Adams, Amber M.

Found: The ‘Lost’ Portrait of Emily Brontë
pp. 85-103    Author:   Heywood, Christopher
An illustration in The Woman at Home (1894), captioned ‘EMILY BRONTË. From a painting by Charlotte Brontë, hitherto unpublished’, matches an unsigned portrait, recently found in a private collection. The illustration was copied from the portrait of Emily Brontë that was seen in Haworth in 1879 by William Robertson Nicoll (1851–1923), owner and editor of The Woman at Home. A pencilled inscription on the back of the newly found portrait, apparently in Charlotte’s handwriting, reads: ‘Emily Brontë / Sister of Charlotte Bro[nté] / Currer Bell’. In 1908 Nicoll declared in an article that the original portrait had become ‘irrevocably lost’. This article proposes that it has been found. The painter is identified here as the Bradford portrait artist, John Hunter Thompson (1808–90).

The Library at Ponden Hall
pp. 104-149    Author:  Duckett, Bob
Abstract:The long-established Heaton family of Ponden Hall (also known as Ponden House), 2½ miles (4 km) west of Haworth, was important to the people of Haworth, the Brontë family included. This article considers the remarkable library at Ponden Hall to which the Brontës had access. Hitherto, the contents of this library have been known only by a poorly compiled auctioneer’s sale catalogue. An improved version of this catalogue has been compiled. The role of the library in the Brontës’ extensive knowledge of literature, travel and law is considered. An abridged version of this revised catalogue is appended to this article as an appendix.

New buses and a new brand to promote Brontë Country's attractions

There are new buses in Brontë country to help promote the Brontë sights according to Keighley News.

A £210,000 investment in new Brontë branded buses aims to tighten the link between the main route serving the Worth Valley and the area's visitor attractions. Bus firm Transdev in Keighley is rebranding its 500 route between Keighley, Haworth, Oxenhope and Hebden Bridge as the Brontë Bus. It features brand new vehicles with free WiFi and more comfortable seating. The service runs hourly, seven days a week. The company say it will also work with the Brontë Society and Parsonage Museum to help bring the Brontës to the world and the world to Yorkshire. Alex Hornby, Transdev’s managing director, said: “Along with the many things to see and do locally in Haworth and the surrounding area, the bus journey is an attraction in itself with amazing views across the Worth Valley. "We look forward to bringing more visitors into the area and contributing to the growth of the local economy even further.” Rebecca Yorke, marketing and communications officer at Brontë Parsonage Museum, said: The Brontë Bus 500 between Keighley and Hebden Bridge has always been a great way for local residents and visitors to travel to the museum, particularly as part of the route offers such fantastic views of the moors that inspired the Brontës’ famous novels.
“We’re delighted Transdev has decided to rename it the Brontë Bus, especially as we approach our celebrations for the 200th anniversary of Charlotte Brontë’s birth next year." (Miran Rahman)

Haworth 1940s weekend 16-17 may

To celebrate Haworth 1940s weekend, we are offering an insight into life at the Parsonage during the wartime years.

Visitors can meet Mrs Mitchell, wife of Custodian Harold Mitchell, and hear about the life of their young son Eric, the last child to be born in the Parsonage, and his 1940s childhood.

Visitors will also have the chance to see our special 1940s display which features a copy of the original screenplay for the 1943 film adaptation of Jane Eyre along with stills and other memorabilia from the 1940s Brontë films.

 

 

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