The-Banagher-Bronte-legacy-project.

The Irish Legacy of the Brontë Family in Banagher
Maebh O'Regan
Banagher Crafting Group
Co. Offaly

This project looks at the Irish Legacy of the Brontë family as Charlotte Brontë married Banagher-man Arthur Bell Nicholls. In 1861 when Patrick Brontë died, Arthur Bell Nicholls returned to Banagher bringing with him manuscripts, paintings, his wife's wedding chest and all of Brontë memorabilia, including his father-in-law's dogs, Cato and Plato. He cherished these items and his new home became almost a museum to the Brontës. In this community project the Crafting Group in Banagher and the project's co-ordinator, Maebh O'Regan are going to make images of 15 of the key items of the Irish Brontë legacy in needlework. The plan is to use these objects as tools to raise awareness of the importance of the Brontë Legacy in Banagher.
Read all about this project: bronteblog/the-banagher-bronte-legacy-project

Elizabeth Gaskell House with summer flowers.

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Hathersage on the Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre trail.

Nick Holland: I'm in beautiful Hathersage on the Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre trail. Here's a short video:

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The reason for Charlotte’s visit to Hathersage was that Ellen Nussey’s brother had been made vicar of the parish. Whilst Charlotte was there, Henry was on honeymoon with his new bride Emily Prescott (he had previously had a proposal rejected by Charlotte of course). Charlotte and Ellen were overseeing some renovations that Henry had ordered, and the beautiful parsonage building they stayed in was recreated as the home of the Rivers family in Morton:

‘I could not bear to return to the sordid village, where, besides, no prospect of aid was visible. I should have longed rather to deviate to a wood I saw not far off, which appeared in its thick shade to offer inviting shelter; but I was so sick, so weak, so gnawed with nature’s cravings, instinct kept me roaming round abodes where there was a chance of food. Solitude would be no solitude—rest no rest—while the vulture, hunger, thus sank beak and talons in my side.

Read more: annebronte/hathersage-morton-in-words-and-pictures