Back To Haworth

Did you watch To Walk Invisible, the television film about the Bronte family, which was shown over the Christmas period last year? I really enjoyed it. Much of the filming took place in Haworth, a village in West Yorkshire, where the Brontes grew up. If you didn't manage to catch it, I can highly recommend it if you get the chance to see it.

We often have a drive out to Haworth, it's a lovely little village and a nice place for a stroll. We decided to visit again yesterday and I'm pleased to say that although it started spitting with rain just as we arrived, the rain held off and the sun kept making an appearance.

This is the parsonage where the Brontes lived and wrote their famous novels, it is now the Bronte Parsonage Museum. We didn't go inside as we had Archie with us, but I believe that there's an exhibition of costumes, props and photography from To Walk Invisible on until the end of the year which is free with admission to the museum.

From the parsonage garden, you can look across the graveyard and see St Michael and All Angels' church where Patrick Bronte was perpetual curate. The Bronte family, with the exception of Anne who is buried in St Mary's churchyard in Scarborough, are buried in a crypt beneath the east end of the church.

Patrick Bronte was responsible for the building of the Sunday school.

As the blue plaque shows, Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne all taught here and Charlotte's wedding reception was held here in 1854.

Haworth Main Street is set on a steep hill, it's fine walking down but it's a bit of a challenge walking back up it again.

It was nice to see some new businesses had opened since we were last there, selling all manner of things.

The Souk has been here for a long time, it's a treasure trove of vintage items and jewellery and is always very popular.

The old apothecary at the top of Main Street is well known for being the place where Branwell bought his laudanum. It's still owned by the same family who bought the shop over thirty years ago but it's been rebranded since we last visited and it's now known as Cabinet of Curiosities. The beautiful cabinets and units which have been salvaged from chemists, grocery shops and museums still hold handmade candles, soaps and bath powders but now there's also a new range of gifts, inspired by the Cabinets of Curiosity or "wonder-rooms" of Renaissance Europe.

I love how attractive some of the shops are.

There's also cottages on Main Street and some of these are beautifully decorated outside too.

Haworth is very dog friendly, they can't be taken in the museum, of course, but many of the shops allow dogs inside and so do the pubs.

If you're ever in the area, Haworth is a lovely place for a day out. We didn't venture further than the parsonage and on Main Street, but there's also the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. You can take a ride to Oakworth station where The Railway Children was filmed, or if you enjoy walking you can take a hike to Top Withens, a ruined farmhouse which is said to have been the inspiration for the Earnshaw home in Wuthering Heights. About two miles from Haworth is Coldspring Mill, an old soap mill which has been restored and now sells outdoor clothing and equipment as well as one floor being stocked from floor to ceiling with knitting yarn. We did stop by on our way home but I didn't buy anything on this occasion.

It was a lovely day out and as Mick is on holiday again this week, I'm hoping that we can have some more nice days out during the week. Weather permitting.