Brontë Day Retreat in Thornton

A special Brontë Day Retreat will take place on Saturday, 10 May 2025, in Thornton, the birthplace of the Brontë siblings. Hosted by award-winning authors Sharon Wright and Emma Conally-Barklem, this unique retreat blends literary history, creative writing, and mindfulness, all in the heart of Brontë country. The event, supported by South Square Centre and the onsite vegetarian café Plenty at the Square, runs from 10 AM to 3 PM and includes a guided walking tour, author talks, writing workshops, and a delicious home-cooked two-course lunch—plus cake.

The full schedule is as follows:

• 10am Meet outside Brontë Birthplace. Welcome and guided tour of the Brontës' Thornton, including heritage trail.

• 11am Refreshments and Plenty at the Square café.

• 12pm South Square Gallery: Practical writing session with prompts, feedback & discussion.

• 2pm Sharon Wright’s talk on Maria Branwell Brontë and her best-selling biography Mother of the Brontës.

• 2:20pm Emma Conally-Barklem’s talk on personal legacy and her poetry collection Hymns from the Sisters.

• 2:45pm Guided seated mindful meditation and farewells.

• 3pm Finish.

This retreat is especially meaningful for Emma, taking place on her mother’s birthday and hosted in locations with personal and creative significance—including the gallery where she exhibited The Ridings and performed her spoken word work. With places limited, early booking is recommended via the “Book Events” section of www.emmaliveyoga.com or through her LnkBio.