Thornton

Thornton, where the Brontë birthplace is situated, was once a separate village but is now a commuter suburb of Bradford, and in truth is a little run down in parts. Apart from the newly rescued and renovated parsonage where the Brontë sisters were born, perhaps its best known attraction is the collection of 19th century workers' cottages known as South Square, renovated in 1982 as a community arts centre with studios, a gallery and a café (above). 

Up on Market Street, quite near the Brontë birthplace, is the curiously shaped building known (for obvious reasons) as 'Coffin End'. This was once the Star Inn. One of its former landlords was transported to Australia for the crime of stealing ten shillings.

A signpost in the village points to various local places of interest, including the adjacent hamlets of Egypt and Moscow. Established in the early 19th century to house local stone quarry workers, their quirky international names were inspired by British military victories during the Napoleonic Wars. They are not far from the hamlet of Jerusalem and the Walls of Jericho, originally massive stone walls that held back the quarry spoil heaps. The walls have now been demolished for safety reasons but I remember them from my younger days - high, dark and forbidding. 

One of the nicest things, in my opinion, about Thornton is that it sits on the hillside overlooking Bradford dale, where streams come together to form Bradford Beck, a river which ultimately runs down to and under the city centre. There's a massive Victorian railway viaduct and far-reaching views from the village streets. 

The Bell Chapel

Following on from yesterday's post, here is the Bell Chapel in Thornton. It was originally built between 1587 and 1612 and had undergone many changes by the time Patrick Brontë became its parson from 1815 to 1820. (He later said this was 'the happiest time of his life'.) In 1872, after he left, a new church was constructed and the Bell Chapel fell into disrepair. The font, where the Brontë children were baptised, has been relocated to the new church of St James, just across the road. Now all that remains of the chapel is one wall and a small anteroom, and the cupola that once graced the roof. It has been tidied up and made safer by volunteers since I last visited. It's now a rather attractive and romantic ruin, sitting in its graveyard, which was full of bluebells. 

Brontë Birthplace Museum

I recently went with a friend to visit the Brontë birthplace on Market Street in Thornton. Thornton was a village in Victorian times and it was here that Rev'd Patrick Brontë, supported by his wife Maria, was, for five years from 1815 to 1820, the minister of the Bell Chapel. Thus it was here, in what was then the modest parsonage, that four of their six children were born. They already had Maria (b 1814) and Elizabeth (b 1815) and added to their family with Charlotte (1816), Patrick Branwell (1817), Emily (1818) and Anne (1820). The three younger girls, of course, went on to become the famous novelists that we know as the Brontë sisters. In 1820 the family moved on to nearby Haworth, living in the Parsonage there.

Sadly, their mother Maria died in 1821 of cancer and the two older girls died of TB in 1825. 

Their original home was fairly new when they lived there. (It was built in 1802). Since then, it has been a butcher's shop (which explains the extension on the front); the home of a crimewriter, Barbara Whitehead, who did open it for a while as a small museum; and then a coffee shop (which I visited in 2019, see HERE) that did not reopen after COVID. In 2023, the local community and supporters set about crowdfunding to restore the building and secure its future. It has been renovated, preserving the original features that were left and adding period-appropriate decor and furniture. 

They've uncovered the original stone flags in the hallway, and the fireplace in the family room (below), in front of which, it's said, the children were born. This room, which became the butcher's shop, is now a Tea Room. 

The more formal Parlour, across the hallway, also has its original hob grate fireplace, and a series of display cabinets showing some of the items that were uncovered in the restoration. 

Upstairs, what was once the nursery where the children slept is now a large bedroom. This room had connecting doors to both the parents bedroom and that of the young household servant who helped the family.

Since the renovation, you can book an overnight stay in the house, which I'm sure will appeal to some of the many avid fans of the Brontës. 

The scullery (my first photo) was the beating heart of the domestic life of the family, where food was prepared and laundry done. The cast-iron range isn't original to the house (as the room had been stripped and turned into a more modern kitchen) but is of the same period. Leading off it are very steep stone stairs up to the small room where the family's servant slept. Nancy Garr came in 1816 (aged just 13 herself!) to help look after the children, later joined by her 12 year old sister.  

All that jazz

We've had some unbelievably hot days recently - and it's barely summer yet. I had my younger granddaughter over for the day and we wandered down to Roberts Park for an ice cream. 'Guiseley Jazz' were playing in the bandstand, and a few folk got up to dance to the infectious rhythm. It was heartwarming to see the older couple teaching the younger girls some of the moves. It all felt very relaxed and lovely - and the ice creams were good too. We even found a place to sit in the shade and the slight breeze made it feel bearable. Neither of us are sun/hot weather lovers. 

We paid a visit to Baba Jaga's hut, and I found she knew the legend quite well. She's bright as a button and quick on the uptake about most things. 

Before long she was in her favourite habitat - up a tree! 

Any railings or low walls we pass also get clambered on. From here we got a grandstand view of the Canada geese taking their babies for a paddle on the weir. The river is currently very low, but it will soon fill again as we have rain forecast for next week. 

The Plot at Platform One

'The Plot at Platform One' would be a great title for a detective novel, wouldn't it? In fact, it's the name of one of the sites used by Veg on the Edge, our community gardening group. Their volunteers plant raised beds with vegetables, fruit and herbs that anyone can come and pick once they're ripe. This area is alongside the Leeds-bound platform of Saltaire railway station. I find it's quite enjoyable to feast my eyes (if not my stomach) on all the greenery whilst I'm waiting for a train.

They have three raised beds here. It's too early in the season for produce but there are some herbs. The borders between the fence and the sunny south-facing wall of the old Dining Hall (now part of Shipley College) are a riotous mixture of wild and garden flowers and shrubs, and attract bees, butterflies and pollinators. I rather like the flowering plant I've pictured - the flowers are such a wonderful azure blue. It's called green alkanet and is considered (in some places) to be an invasive weed as, once established, it is pretty hard to get rid of. Its flowers are, apparently, edible and can be used as a garnish on salads. 

Tapestry

 A riot of colour - a grassy bank covered in flowers. 

'I moved not with my feet, but mid the glooms

Pierced with my charmed eye, contemplating

The mighty multitude of fresh May blooms.'

PB Shelley

Dancing in the street

As part of Bingley's 1940s event, you could learn to dance in the park - and lots of people were joining in. 

Those more skilled in the art of 'lindy hop' or 'jitterbug' or whatever it is properly called were letting it rip in the square outside the Arts Centre, and attracted quite a sizeable audience. The music and lively dancing were most enjoyable. It's always great to see people enjoying themselves and the sunshine was a bonus. 

Bingley 1940s event

The sunny weather was ideal for Bingley's 1940s event in the town square. Lots of people attended and many really entered into the spirit of it, dressing up and joining in the dancing. There were a few ex-army vehicles, vintage cars, stalls selling vintage clothing and memorabilia and, of course, plenty of food and drinks available. It's never easy taking photos in a small, crowded area but I managed a few snaps that convey something of the atmosphere. It was a good day out! 

Brutalism, buskers and birds

Shipley Market Place was bathed in sunshine at the weekend. Its Festival of Britain-style concrete clock tower, built in 1960-61 above the indoor market, was recently denied listed building status. Historic England, the body that oversees listing, said it lacked 'the design quality' and 'use of high-quality materials' of comparable listed examples. It is a bit of a 'Marmite' thing.  (You either love it or hate it.) 

I was prepared to love the buskers playing as part of Busk BD 2026, a busking festival across the city. I thought they were quite good, though sadly their audience, in Shipley at least, was almost non-existent.  

The chap above was, I think, called the Bus Pass Busker, and he was followed by a young lad called Ryan Swift (below).

Also enjoying the sunshine, the many market place pigeons were being fed from a big bag of sunflower seeds by a gentleman rather conspicuous in a high-vis vest. (Not sure what that was about. Maybe he had a bike somewhere). I'm pretty certain feeding them isn't encouraged but at least it was seeds and not dry bread. 

Wedding showcase

I was passing the Victoria Hall one day when I noticed they were holding a 'Wedding Showcase', so I rather cheekily popped in to look round. (I'm not intending to get married!) The Hall often gets used for weddings and it is a lovely and quite grand space for such events. 

There were only a handful of people looking round, so I don't know how well it had been advertised. The rooms were set out as examples of how they could be arranged for weddings, and there were stalls for businesses offering services - floristry, cakes, wedding celebrants, photographers, music, wedding dresses and so on. The VW campervan in the driveway was offered as a fun way to arrive at and leave your wedding.  

The main hall was set up with tables - and the organist was there playing the Wurlitzer on the stage.  

One of the rooms upstairs had a different table arrangement. Then a smaller room was set out for the wedding ceremony itself.  

Who wouldn't want to get married there, with views like this through the windows? 

The wedding business seems to be a huge one these days, and there are a lot of places locally that offer themselves as venues, both for traditional British weddings and the lavish and colourful ceremonies that our Asian communities favour. The Victoria Hall can cater for both.