Brontë myths

Keighley News echoes the story of Ashmount in Haworth being up for sale.

Ashmount, in Mytholmes Lane, Haworth, was built around 160 years ago and was home to Dr Amos Ingham.

In more recent times, the property – which has a sale guide price of £800,000 – has been a popular bed and breakfast and events venue.

According to Dacre, Son & Hartley, which is handling the sale, the ten-bedroom detached house "enjoys breathtaking views across the surrounding countryside" and is "full of character period features".

Ian Bradbury, director at the estate agency, says: "This is a well-known property close to the bustling centre of Haworth and all its attractions, as well as its glorious countryside, which attracts thousands of tourists every year and was the inspiration for many of the Bronte sisters’ world-famous poems and novels. [...]

Born in Heptonstall in 1827, Dr Ingham was admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons and became Haworth village surgeon from 1852.

Serving as doctor to the Brontës, he was understood to be the source of a story that the troubled sibling Branwell had accidentally set fire to his bed after a drunken episode, resulting in him having to share a bed from then on with father Patrick.

Dr Ingham was in attendance on the death of Jane Eyre author Charlotte on March 31, 1855, and signed her death certificate.

During his time in Haworth, Dr Ingham married Mary Akeroyd at St Michael & All Angels' Church, in the village.

He died in 1889. (Alistair Shand)

By the time he became village surgeon in 1852 every Brontë except for Patrick and Charlotte was dead and buried.

Hathersage, which was visited by Charlotte Brontë only for a few a days now has a pub, The George, which, according to The Yorkshire Post, was 'often visited by Yorkshire author and poet Charlotte Brontë'.

AnneBrfaontë.org has a post on 'Charlotte Brontë, Stone Gappe And Jane Eyre'.