Patrick Brontë, his wife Maria and their two children, Maria and Elizabeth, moved to the parsonage at Thornton on the 15th May 1815, now numbered 72 to 74 Market Street. The literary sisters were born there, Charlotte in 1816, Emily Jane in 1818, and Anne Brontë in 1820, as well as their brother Patrick Branwell in 1817. Patrick was curate of what is now called the Brontë Bell Chapel. The family left in 1820 when the Rev. Patrick Brontë became the perpetual curate at Haworth.
The birthplace had built, on to its right front, in the 19th century a butchers shop.
The Birthplace is a Grade 2* (II*) Listed building, including the railings and garden. The Listing states: “House, 1802, home to the Bronte family 1815-20 and birth place of Charlotte, Emily and Anne. Projecting shop (no.72) added mid C19.
MATERIALS: thin coursed sandstone used similar to brick, sandstone dressings and stone slate roof.
PLAN: central entrance plan with a single storey shop projecting forwards from the right, (east) bay.
EXTERIOR: this is a small, two storey, three bay house that is attached to the flanking properties to the sides. The symmetrical frontage has large square windows divided into paired lights with central stone mullions, the window above the central door being a single light. All of these windows have plain stone surrounds and 2-over-2 sashes. The central door has a similar plain surround, but also has a moulded cornice supported by simple console brackets. The eves is corniced, this being supported by small, paired modillion brackets. The mid-C19 projecting bay is canted to the west with a doorway set in the corner. Facing the street to the south is a large shop window with a 3-over-3 sash and a folding awning, all protected by a moulded stone cornice supported by moulded consoles.
INTERIOR: not inspected.
SUBSIDARIES: extending to the left (west) of the front door, enclosing a small front garden, is a wall topped by short, wrought iron railings with fleur de lis and honeysuckle heads.
Listing NGR: SE1006732756
This listing was enhanced in 2016 to mark the bicentenary of Charlotte Bronte’s birth.”
The Brontë Walks are walks conceived by local author Michael Stewart. The walks are described on his website. Scroll down the page which you come to; the link he gives to “the official website” doesn’t work, (tried on 16 July 2023). Copies of the walks are available to buy from Plenty in South Square. The Brontë Stones, with locations are shown on this website.
The Brontë Way, links places connected with the Brontë family, from Oakwell Hall, near to Birstall in West Yorkshire to Gawthorpe Hall near Padiham in Lancashire. For further details see the WALKS page of this website.
The Brontë Birthplace also has a Facebook page. It is now owned by Brontë Birthplace Ltd., a community benefit society, and is being restored by them. They raised aa total of £650,000 with grants from Bradford Council, and the Government’s Levelling Up Fund, plus from donations from more than 700 investors. They welcome more donations. The Birthplace is currently closed to visitors. (Updated 30 April 2024)
All About Thornton 