A new chapter for the Brontë Parsonage Museum

Almost 100 years after Sir James Roberts gifted Haworth Parsonage to the Brontë Society on 4 August 1928, the Society is pleased to announce it has acquired a cluster of historic buildings in the centre of Haworth. The three adjoining properties, near the top of Main Street, have not been in use for many years and are currently in a state of disrepair, something the charity is keen to rectify. 

Lucy Powrie, Chair of the Brontë Society added: “As we look towards honouring the centenary of the Brontë Parsonage Museum in 2028, I am delighted that our acquisition of this building will allow us to shape an ambitious and inclusive vision for the future of the Museum and the Brontë Society, a vision we hope will uphold the heritage of the Brontës and Haworth for generations to come.”

“The Brontë Society has long held an ambition to have a presence closer to the heart of Haworth. Restoring this neglected building will provide us with the opportunity to create unique and much-needed additional space for our archives and team members and we look forward to breathing new life into this part of West Lane.

There is a lot of work to do before the restoration can begin, but everyone at the Brontë Parsonage Museum is very excited about the potential of this building and the opportunities it offers for closer community engagement with local residents and visitors alike.” 

- Rebecca Yorke, Director of the Brontë Parsonage Museum

Situated in a conservation area, the properties include the former studio of Haworth photographer Fred Smith, who was caretaker of the original Brontë Museum, situated above the Yorkshire Penny Bank in the early 1900s. Many of Smith’s photographs, which document Haworth at that time, are now in the Brontë Society’s archive and it is hoped many of them will be displayed in the renovated building. 

The purchase, which took place shortly before the building was due to be sold at auction, was made possible thanks to a recent bequest made to the Brontë Society, but funding for the refurbishment will be sought from external sources.