The Brontes of Howarth

      The Bronte family of Howarth, a strangely fascinating family group in 19th Century England, living at The Parsonage, in the supposedly bleak and gloomy moors village of Howarth, West Yorkshire. On the one hand, there is the three sisters, Anne, Charlotte and Emily, all published authors, producing classic works of English literature, Anne; "Agnes Grey," and "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" Charlotte; "Jane Eyre" and Emily; "Wuthering Heights." Then there are the other members of the family, their father Patrick Bronte, who made his way from humble beginnings to join the priesthood, become a published poet and active local worthy, building a Sunday School and organizing clean water supplies for the village, etc. His wife Maria, seems to have led a quiet existence, very much in the background of the Bronte household. Their son, (Patrick) Branwell Bronte, artist and writer, though not in the same vein as his sisters. There are of course two other older sisters both died of tuberculosis, whom barely draw a mention, unless you dig a little deeper. 

      Then of course there appears to be another side to the story, perhaps nothing quite so awful about the family, maybe items which will add interest to their story, and character no doubt well researched, discussed and recorded. 
      It seems Branwell comes off with the worst reputation, due to a bad and arrogant attitude with a fascination for alcohol intake and opium consumption. There is an interesting story about him taking up the position of tutor to two boys of the Postlethwaite family at Broughton-in-Furness. On days off in Ambleside, he is said to have found himself in the company of such a notable as Samuel Coleridge Taylor, himself a noted Opium addict. Branwell then found himself dismissed from his teaching position within a year, due to a ribald desire for the bottle. Branwell also had a later Tutor's position to a single boy in the Robinson family, of Thorpe Green near York, where Anne had been the governess for the previous three years. Unfortunately this position also came to a premature end due to a rumoured adulterous relationship with Mrs Robinson. 
      Elizabeth Gaskell, friend of Charlotte Bronte described Patrick Bronte in her 1857 Biography, as "strange and half mad not naturally fond of children." He is said to have terrorised his family with sudden explosions of temper. There are stories of him burning his children's books and firing a shotgun out of his kitchen door, and is said to have carried a loaded gun, at all times, probably quite normal events for this period, he also suffered debilitating eye sight in his later life.
      Of the three sisters, although many pages have been written about the family, and we view them in a certain light, it's worth noting some unkind remarks, at the time on their generally plain and undernourished appearance. Although it is said. Emily, once beat up the family dog, leaving it half blind in the process. Charlotte found employment as a girls tutor, though proved to be quite unpopular with teacher and pupils sharing a mutual hatred. Their lives at the Parsonage are said to be remote and closeted, with mortality looming in the background. There is a rumour of Charlotte also consuming opium, hardly surprising with the presence of Branwell.
      All these minor indiscretions aside, the Bronte Family, remain one of the greatest literary families in the world.

      
      A recently discovered watercolour which is thought to be of the three Bronte sisters.