To celebrate Heritage Open Days 2026, the Brontë Birthplace hosted a special pop-up exhibition inspired by this year’s theme, “Everyday Histories”. The exhibition invited visitors to learn about another chapter of the building’s history: its many years as a village butcher’s shop, R. Lovette’s Family Butchers. Barbara, the daughter of the Master Butcher, attended the launch of exhibition and shared extra memories with visitors throughout the day.
Reginald Lovette, known as Reg, ran his butcher’s shop with his wife Mary and daughter Barbara between 1936 and 1979. His story with the Brontë Birthplace began when he rented what is technically known as No. 72, Market Street, Thornton from Harold Ambler, the once owner of the property. Mr R. Lovette ran a successful working shop for over 40 years, serving customers near and far while also allowing Brontë enthusiasts to visit the fireplace where it is said the Brontë children were born.
At the launch day, Barbara recalled that her father “was always very proud of his shop”. She was pleased to see so many people interested in learning about her family’s history during the exhibition, and to see this often-overlooked period of the building’s life represented.
One visitor, Pamela, reflected on her visit:
“The exhibition was so informative, and it was a wonderful experience to learn about the butcher’s shop as well as the Brontë’s history.”
We would like to thank Barbara and her husband, Alan, for generously sharing their memories, research and insights into R. Lovette’s Family Butchers. Their contribution helped us tell a richer, more personal story about the building and the community around it.
Shining a light on everyday lives like theirs, helps us delve deeper into the role this historic building has played in Thornton through the years. The Brontë Birthplace is not only a place of literary significance, but also a building shaped by the many people who lived and worked there.
