The team behind the opening of the Brontë Birthplace is celebrating a ground breaking year which has seen the historical house re-open after more than 200 years.
The Brontë Birthplace, Thornton, where Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne Brontë were all born, opened to the public for the first time in its 200-year history in March.
Money from more than 700 individual investors, together with grants from Bradford City of Culture 2025, the Community Ownership Fund, National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund, led to the house being purchased and placed under the care of Brontë Birthplace Limited, a Community Benefit Society.
Following a significant renovation process Her Majesty Queen Camilla officially opened the Birthplace in May launching the house as a museum and education centre with facilities for overnight stays in the historical rooms.
The Be More Brontë campaign was also launched to inspire children to take on new life challenges.
Fundraising Co-ordinator, Nigel West, said: “It is an amazing story of Bradford City of Culture 2025 using their legacy funding and then 770 members contributing and the formation of a Community Benefit Society that will protect the Birthplace for the community.
“It is the most important heritage opening anywhere in the UK this year and as significant to this country as Shakespeare’s birthplace.”
Following the opening of the house an array of events have taken place including author talks, educational workshops and theatre performances.
Next year the Birthplace team plan to build on the work already started and continue the success achieved in 2025.
Nigel added: “This year has been a dream come true for everyone involved in the Birthplace project.
“We cannot wait to see what 2026 will hold for this amazing little house which has provided a lasting legacy for Thornton, Bradford and Bronte fans worldwide.”
The Bronte sisters’ novels revolutionised 19th century literature with their explorations of gender, class and freedom.
Interest in their writing is set to increase ahead of the highly anticipated adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights directed by Emerald Fennel and staring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi set for release in February.