More Bronte

I came back via Cowan Bridge today, the school here was attended by Maria, Elizabeth, Charlotte and Emily. Charlotte's experiences here formed the basis of Lowood School in Jane Eyre. There was a huge outcry from the benefactors of the school saying that due to a Charlottes age when she attended and the brief time spent she couldn't possibly remember her time there with any objectivity. They put forward their own witnesses who said the school was fine, Charlotte's husband defended her memories of the school.

The building has changed enormously since then, a whole wing has been demolished and a veranda which would have run along the roadside has also gone. I'm assuming that the path of the road has not really changed so was surprised that it was side on to it, I always expected it to be be more remote. I realize that buildings have sprung up around it but there were still contemporary building close by. I also expected it to be in the shadow of a church but no.

I was shocked by the distance from Howarth, it was just 14 miles but it still took me an hour in the car, it really was an undertaking to go to school here, they must have felt very isolated from their family. Even before they became successful, they were governesses in Thorpe Green and went to Brussels, they weren't the provincial girls we imagine. I was brought up in household without a car and we rarely left the village, the occasional trip to the seaside about 30 miles away was my limit. I couldn't have imagined going to the next county just to go to school or go to another country with just my wits. They really were astounding.