Brookroyd House, Birstall
Here I am at Brookroyd House which was the former home of Ellen Nussey, one of Charlotte Bronte's lifelong friends. I must
admit my heart sank a little when I arrived. In books photographs show an
established house so I was expecting it to be set back from the road surrounded
by mature lawns, a few trees, an open aspect and perhaps a stream. Sadly
so-called development means the house is hemmed and next to modern houses.
Behind it sits an one of those convenience shops with a door that goes all day.
The house is a beauty though nature that once
complimented it seems to have gone. The front is fully paved and high fence
panels surround it. Nobody seemed to be around but the moment I started taking
photographs a car pulled in. Thankfully it was a friendly woman who'd come to
clean the bottom half of the building. Downstairs are offices and upstairs is a
flat. She said the place was mostly new inside and the only remaining feature
was a grand fireplace. Little of what was built in 1780 seems to be present. In
2005 the house was for sale for £365,000 by actor Tony Bennett-Pitts (who
played Archie Brook in Emmerdale
for 11 years.) At the time it comprised the original sweeping staircase,
elaborate coving and Georgian floors though the lady I chatted to didn't
mention these.
If you're lucky you get two or three firm friends
in life and Ellen Nussey was one of Charlotte
Bronte’s. They met as teenagers at Roe Head School in 1831 and remained friends
until Charlotte's death aged 38. Charlotte came to stay here with her friend
regularly and often brought her sisters. Ellen often visited the parsonage in
Haworth. Thanks to the correspondence with Ellen we’ve got a better view into
Charlotte’s precise mind. Many of her private letters were written from Brookroyd House and often replied to here.
In the garden Charlotte sat and corrected the
proofs of Jane Eyre, the novel that
would make her famous. Paving stones abound now and a natural garden has gone.
The rear yard doesn't boast enough greenery to be called a garden.
From the road I tried to take some general
footage of the house but stopped when the microphone picked up some lads
arguing outside the off licence. This seemed to compound the general
disappointment somehow. Seeing the place sated my curiosity but I expected a
more pastoral settings. Oh well.
At the rear...
