Brontë Society Spring Walk

Today, May 14, Shirley country, that has generated several posts lately, is again in the news, at least the Brontë-related ones. As it was published some time ago in the Brontë Parsonage Blog by Richard Wilcocks:

In recent years, Brontë Society Spring Walks, organised by Ian and Catherine Emberson, and Stephen and Angela Barber, have been blessed with warm and sunny weather. Let us hope that this will be the case on Sunday May 14th.

Walkers will start from St Peter's Church in Birstall, frequently attended by Charlotte Brontë on her visits to Ellen Nussey and Mary Taylor, and also the site of the Nussey family vault. They will then proceed to the Country Park and the Elizabethan manor house of Oakwell Hall. (first picture). The interior still retains oak panelling, a medieval staircase, dog gates and the original windows referred to in Shirley. Ellen Nussey taught here in later life.

The route continues through open countryside and uphill to the cottage where Ellen lived in retirement, passing on the way the birthplace of the world famous chemist Joseph Priestley. Next, it's downhill to Brookroyd House, to take a discreet look at the gardens where Charlotte corrected the proofs of Jane Eyre.

The end of the walk is at Rydings (second picture), the early home of Ellen Nussey. The building retains the famous battlements and has a cruck-frame medieval dining hall and a panelled staircase. It has been restored sympathetically, to a very high standard, by the paint company which owns it.

The pictures are courtesy of this wonderful Brontë gallery.

Categories: Shirley,Brontë_Society