Had three days away in Brontë country over the weekend. We had a chance for a little time off, but had to keep Jasper (our dog) with us. Googled for holiday cottages that were dog-friendly, and found Dales Country Cottages, who provided a whole list. A quick scroll through produced a small cottage in Haworth, a very short walk from the main cobbled street that leads up to the Brontë parsonage museum.
It's quite a spooky place actually - the churchyard is packed very tightly, and goes right up to the old vicarage. Besides that it's surrounded by wild moors, and the houses are that characteristic Yorkshire stone. Add to this a Halloween parade on Sunday afternoon (with the liturgical bidding 'whoo' and the response 'bring out your dead') and you're probably getting the picture!
Anyway, it was fun to be there for a day or two, especially with Jane Eyre having been on TV recently. It put it all into context. Fun to have a ride on the Keighley and Worth Valley steam railway, too!
Can't say I envy the vicar of Haworth. Having said that, the Church had a very welcoming area at the back with a nicely laid out card and information stall and clear displays about some of the church's life and worship. I would be interested how they interact with one or two of the shops that have a significant range of New Age through to semi-occultish books and trinkets in a way that reminded me of Glastonbury. Interesting that they seem to have settled into the commercial community there.
Wonder what Charlotte would think?
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