Plan to safeguard Thornton birthplace of Brontë sisters

The steering group behind the campaign said the current owner of the property intends to sell the premises but would prefer it to be transferred into community ownership if funding for the sale price can be found within six months.

Comprised of a group of local people, the group said the Brontë birthplace has the potential to put Thornton more prominently on the tourist map and boost the local economy.

The Brontë sisters

The group said: “The use and refurbishment of the Brontë birthplace would add significantly to the attractiveness of Market Street to current businesses and as a place to open a new business, adding to recent ventures such as Thornton Furnishings and The Apothecary Gallery.

“For visitors and local people, it will add another dimension to the story of the Brontë family in the Bradford district, showing their early lives and building connections between the birthplace and the Brontë Bell Chapel both in Thornton, and the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth where they grew up.

“This provides an opportunity to contribute to building rich ‘bookable products’ for visitors to Bradford.”

Under community ownership, the group wants to see the birthplace and the surrounding area “thrive and offer valuable experiences for heritage tourists, for children, families and young people”.

The plaque on the Brontë birthplace on Market Street, Thornton

The group added: “We will open a café/small restaurant/events space downstairs, expanding slightly the scope and size of the current café.

“Upstairs the rooms will be decorated in the style of furnishings at the time of the Brontës.

“We aim to work closely with the Brontë Parsonage Museum, taking guidance from them to create a full Brontë experience. 

“The rooms will be let via Air B&B, offering experiential nights for national and international tourists some of whom may enjoy starting their journey at the birthplace and taking one of the four Brontë walking routes, experiencing the moors and fells that inspired the Bronte novels as they travel from Thornton to the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth.

“The income generated from room hire and lettings will create a sustainable income for the maintenance of the building and for investment in the local community.”

There are plans for writing workshops, activities for schools, artist commissions and residencies as well as other activities with a Brontë focus.

The group’s expression of interest to the Community Ownership Fund to cover 50 per cent of capital requirements and a contribution to revenue funding has been accepted and an application will be lodged next week.

The group said the remaining funds will be raised via match funding from a variety of sources and a fundraising page, which can be accessed here https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/bronte-birthplace.