Bronte Birthplace for Sale by Auction
On the afternoon of Monday 25th June 2007, Eddisons’ auctioneer, Tony Webber will invite bidding to commence on the birthplace of one of the most important and extraordinary literary families in British history.
The Bronte Birthplace at 72 -74 Market St in the village of Thornton, near Bradford in West Yorkshire was the birthplace of Emily, Charlotte, Anne and Branwell Bronte and was the family home for five years.
Tony Webber commented: “When you consider that this family gave the world the likes of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre it’s hard to believe that the home in which they were conceived and born is still available for private sale – especially when the appeal of the Brontes is global and the nearby Parsonage in Haworth, where the family spent so many years, is one of the region’s most visited tourist destinations.”
The property is though available and will be sold to the highest bidder at the sale, which commences at noon on 25th June 2007 at Leeds United’s Elland Road football stadium.
Being sold off a guide price of £200,000, the Grade II listed building, part of which has been used as a butcher’s and a restaurant in the years since the Bronte’s residency, features four bedrooms, three staircases and a split level dining room with front sitting room – the room in which the Brontes were born.
Most recently owned by novelist, Barbara Whitehead, who restored many of the homes original features and made it available for public viewing, the property is being sold due to her forthcoming retirement.
Angela Crow, actress, writer and a trustee of the Parsonage in Haworth, commented: “Patrick Bronte once said that he and his family spent their happiest years in Market Street and if you consider this home shaped the formative years of his children’s lives then it would be a dreadful shame to see such an historically important landmark lost to future generations of Bronte lovers.”
Mr Webber concluded: “It would be nice to see the home purchased and used to further build the Bronte Country brand in Yorkshire, but then again, how romantic would it be if a family bought it and their children went on to make an impact in the literary world?”
[News item posted June 2007.]
EDITOR's NOTE (added June 2007): The Bronte Birthplace has now been sold. See latest news update for details.
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