Mary Taylor's Red House to be sold

Well, it's happened: Kirklees Council’s cabinet members have approved selling Red House. From Dewsbury Reporter:

Kirklees Council’s cabinet members have approved selling Red House as it continued to grapple with a financial black hole.

There had been plans to turn the Grade II listed building in to a venue and holiday accommodation,

But there have not been any viable community asset transfer bids, so the council says the required funding allocation for the former museum has been withdrawn.

Without that funding, the council says the venue and holiday accommodation plan “is no longer viable” and the building should be sold to generate funds.

Red House was the home of Charlotte Bronte's friend Mary Taylor and is believed to have served as inspiration for in her novel ‘Shirley’. (Sarah Fitton)

It's a short-sighted decision and we are pretty sure that they will grow to regret it. But we can now only hope that whoever buys it treats it with the respect it deserves, which will be more that can be said of Kirkless Council.

Coincidentally, The Telegraph and Argus has an article on recovered heritage: 'How Keighley and Worth Valley Railway was saved and reborn', inspired by the book The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway by Peter Waller.

The tourist potential of the line had been demonstrated as far back as 1895 when the Midland Railway operated a special train to Haworth to mark the opening of the Bronte Museum,’ writes Peter, ‘but it was the creation of the preservation society that gave an impetus to the line’s survival. (Helen Mead)

The Review Geek lists '10 Book Sequels and Spin-offs Worth Checking Out' and one of them is

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys is a profoundly captivating and thought-provoking novel that serves as a prequel to Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. Rhys skilfully delves into the life of Bertha Mason, the first wife of Mr. Rochester, offering compelling insights into her tragic backstory.

Set in the lush and atmospheric landscapes of Jamaica and England, the book explores themes of identity, racism, and the power dynamics between men and women. With vivid prose and a hauntingly introspective narrative, Rhys expertly challenges the colonialist and patriarchal perspectives of the original classic, weaving a mesmerizing tale that demands empathy and understanding for its marginalized character. (Kennie M)

And The Review Geek also lists '10 Books with Alternate Timelines' such as

The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

Jasper Fforde’s The Eyre Affair is a delightful and whimsical blend of literary fantasy and detective fiction. Set in an alternative reality where literature holds immense importance, protagonist Thursday Next is a literary detective tasked with preserving the integrity of literary works.

When the iconic character Jane Eyre is kidnapped from the pages of Charlotte Brontë’s novel, Thursday must navigate a world filled with time travel, literary forgeries, and eccentric characters to solve the case. Fforde’s imaginative world-building, clever wordplay, and playful twists on classic literature make The Eyre Affair a literary lover’s dream, showcasing the power and beauty of the written word. (Kennie M)