More on the Lot No 053

The Eagle Intermedia Brontë Country website publishes new information about the upcoming auction of the Brontë Birthplace next June 25:

On the afternoon of Monday 25th June 2007, Eddisons' auctioneer, Tony Webber (in the picture with Angela Crow from the Brontë Society) will invite bidding to commence on the birthplace of one of the most important and extraordinary literary families in British history.
The Bronte Birthplace at 72 -74 Market St in the village of Thornton, near Bradford in West Yorkshire was the birthplace of Emily, Charlotte, Anne and Branwell Bronte and was the family home for five years.
Tony Webber commented: 'When you consider that this family gave the world the likes of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre it's hard to believe that the home in which they were conceived and born is still available for private sale, especially when the appeal of the Brontes is global and the nearby Parsonage in Haworth, where the family spent so many years, is one of the region's most visited tourist destinations.'
The property is though available and will be sold to the highest bidder at the sale, which commences at noon on 25th June 2007 at Leeds United's Elland Road football stadium.
Being sold off a guide price of £200,000, the Grade II listed building, part of which has been used as a butcher's and a restaurant in the years since the Bronte's residency, features four bedrooms, three staircases and a split level dining room with front sitting room, the room in which the Brontes were born.
Most recently owned by novelist, Barbara Whitehead, who restored many of the homes original features and made it available for public viewing, the property is being sold due to her forthcoming retirement.
Angela Crow, actress, writer and a trustee of the Parsonage in Haworth, commented: 'Patrick Bronte once said that he and his family spent their happiest years in Market Street and if you consider this home shaped the formative years of his children's lives then it would be a dreadful shame to see such an historically important landmark lost to future generations of Bronte lovers.'
Mr Webber concluded: 'It would be nice to see the home purchased and used to further build the Bronte Country brand in Yorkshire, but then again, how romantic would it be if a family bought it and their children went on to make an impact in the literary world?'

More information on the Eddisons' webpage:

Description:
Situated
The property is situated within the village of Thornton. Market Street can be approached from Ball Street off Thornton Road, west of Bradford city centre.

Accommodation
The house was used as a restaurant by its previous owners, then split and sold as two dwellings. The current owner, the novelist Barbara Whitehead, has restored the former layout, restored many original features, and made the house available for public viewing. The property, which offers surprisingly spacious accommodation within a village setting, will be offered on Mrs Whitehead's retirement either for residential use or for further development as a literary landmark of international interest.

Basement
Cellar Store

Ground Floor
Entrance Hall with stone floor
Spacious Lounge
Split-level dining room with front sitting room area with stone floor. Tradition has it that all the Bronte children were born in this room.
Bathroom/WC with washbasin. Part tiled walls
Dining Kichen with range of fitted base and wall units, built in oven with 4-ring gas hob unit and extractor hood. Part tiled walls. Stone floor to dining area. Vaillant gas fired central heating boiler.
Three staircases leading to the first floor

First Floor
Landing
Front double bedroom - originally occupied by Mr & Mrs Bronte
Large front double bedroom - originally occupied by the Bronte children
Shower room/WC
Bedroom off with ensuite bathroom/WC
Single Bedroom
Second Kitchen to the rear with dining area
Range of fitted base and wall units

Note
* Secondary double glazing
* Gas fired central heating (not tested)

Categories: Brontëana