Fascinating afternoon

We have had a lovely afternoon tea at Ponden Hall and it wasn't just the tea and cakes that were fantastic.

The owner and our hostess Julie spent over an hour talking to us about the halls' history and giving us a guided tour of the historic rooms now used for bed and breakfast or self-catering guests.

Far too much for me to relate here but the Heaton family who built this place onto an original mid 16th century building were mill owners and were at the peak of their wealth in the 19th century making cloth for the soldiers in the Napoleonic wars. They were also closely involved with the Bronte family having appointed Patrick Bronte to his post in Haworth Church. They were later to fall out over Branwell's frequent visits which encouraged his drinking at hunting parties.

The sisters also visited as the house had one of the biggest libraries in the country at the time and ladies were not permitted to use public libraries like the Mechanics Institute in Keighley.

There are definite literary connections in both Branwell and Emily's writing and is thought to be the inspiration, though not the location, for Wuthering Heights. In particular the small window in the box bed inspiring Emily to write about Cathy tapping on the window to try to return from the grave. 
So much of interest I've made a Flickr set if you want to see more.
(And on Yorkshirebred too)
I asked if they had been involved in the recent filming for the Bronte programme to be screened at Christmas, which saw a complete reproduction of the parsonage recreated on the nearby moors. They had been visited and were expecting to be used for filming, even agreeing to repainting the front door and hall but unfortunately they were cut before it even happened.  A bonus was they were given a reproduction of Emily's piano (it doesn't play) and the sofa that Emily died on!

A fabulous start to October, highly recommended not least for the wonderful tea which followed. Sandwiches, scones with cream and jam and two whole cakes! There were only five of us so there was no way we could do it justice.