Precious items once belonging to the UK’s most famous trio of writers have been returned to their home in Haworth.

The collection has been given to the Bronte Parsonage Museum by an anonymous donor.

And the donation is particularly satisfying because it includes items, like Charlotte Bronte’s mahogany writing desk, which Bronte staff could not afford to bid for at auction in 2009. At the time, they were successful in buying Emily Bronte’s artist’s box for £32,000, but saw the other items sold elsewhere.

“It’s extraordinary the way things have turned out. When we got the message that those items were to be donated to the museum, I was speechless,” said Ann Dinsdale, the museum’s collections manager.

“We would have been thrilled to have them on loan, but to actually be given them is wonderfully generous. I am not able to say who has donated them, but in future we hope they will let us release details.”

The new treasures, which will go on show from next Tuesday, May 31, include Charlotte Bronte’s mahogany writing desk, a pen-holder, sugar tongs a wooden trunk, a display case, a black morocco stationery case, a pocket cigar case and copies of Bronte books.

Museum director Andrew McCarthy said: “A donation on this scale, with an item as significant as the writing desk used by Charlotte Bronte, is very rare. We’re delighted that these items are now where they belong, here in Haworth.”

  • Read the full story in Wednesday's T&A