We started out early this morning by car from Overijse to Charleroi to catch the flight to Manchester. From Manchester airport we took the train to the centre. There we had breakfast while waiting for Richard and Sally who joined us from London. On a tram to the old Victoria station, which must have looked the same in the Brontes time, although more run down. Luckily a restoration project is ongoing and many features from the original building will be kept. We ran to catch the train to Hebden Bridge.
Two photos from Victoria station in Manchester
Hebden Bridge is another old, wonderful railway station. While waiting for the bus we went in to the 'Parcel Room' which us now a small bar. There we mixed with the locals for a light lunch and some local cider. It was difficult to understand what they where saying. Sally said it was like something from the TV-series 'Last of the Summer Wine'!
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| Hebden Bridge railway station |
The bus arrived and full of excitement I took a window seat high up to be able to see as much as possible. It was a wonderful bus trip through villages with narrow streets and countryside with rolling hills which make up the moors. After half an hour we arrived in Haworth and stepped out of the bus in the middle part of the village. The altitude difference between the different parts are quite high, especially if you have to walk uphill. Which is still what we had to do to come to the hotel. We have booked ourselves into The Old White Lion which is an old hotel just around the corner of the Parsonage where the sisters grew up.
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The classical 'Old White Lion' hotel
in Haworth |
We left our bags in the room and then ventured out in the streets of Haworth. First a visit to the Church which is really a nice little church with coloured windows and a light atmosphere. It turns out though that the present church was built after the Brontes' time. I guess the old one might not have been that cosy. Then we slowly neared the 'sanctuary', the house itself. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to take photos so nothing from inside. On the ground floor there are Mr Bronte's study, the dining room where the siblings used to write their stories, the kitchen and Mr Nicholl's study. On the top floor are the bedrooms. In a side wing there is also an interesting exhibition of the lives of the Brontes visualised by letters, personal belongings, paintings, drawings and other memorabilia. It is fantastic to see the house where they lived and try to visualise how their daily lives went on.
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| The Parsonage |
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| The church |
After a small walk in the village we ended up in a tea room and enjoyed a fantastic cream tea! Now back in the room and waiting for dinner, which we will take in the hotel.
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