A weathered stone building with multiple small windows, a white door, and boarded-up sections stands on a wet, cobblestone street under a cloudy sky. Trash bins are lined up on the left side.
The buildings have not been in use for many years and are currently in a state of disrepair Brontë Society

The Brontë Society is expanding after acquiring a cluster of historic buildings in the centre of Howarth.

The society, which runs the Brontë Parsonage Museum, said the three adjoining properties would provide more space for its archives and team members, as well as facilitating closer community engagement.

The buildings, at the top of the town’s Main Street, have not been in use for many years and are currently in a state of disrepair. The charity plans to fully refurbish them.

The buildings include the former studio of Haworth photographer Fred Smith, who was the caretaker of the original Brontë Museum, situated above the Yorkshire Penny Bank in the early 1900s.

Many of Smith’s photographs documenting 1900s Haworth are now in the Brontë Society’s archive. The society is hoping to display them in the renovated building. 

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The acquisition comes as the museum prepares to celebrate 100 years since the Yorkshire industrialist Sir James Roberts gifted the Haworth Parsonage building to the society on 4 August 1928.

Lucy Powrie, chair of the Brontë Society, said: “As we look towards honouring the centenary of the Brontë Parsonage Museum in 2028, I am delighted that our acquisition of this building will allow us to shape an ambitious and inclusive vision for the future of the museum and the Brontë Society, a vision we hope will uphold the heritage of the Brontës and Haworth for generations to come.

Rebecca Yorke, director of the Brontë Parsonage Museum, said: “The Brontë Society has long held an ambition to have a presence closer to the heart of Haworth. Restoring this neglected building will provide us with the opportunity to create unique and much-needed additional space for our archives and team members and we look forward to breathing new life into this part of West Lane.

“There is a lot of work to do before the restoration can begin, but everyone at the Brontë Parsonage Museum is very excited about the potential of this building and the opportunities it offers for closer community engagement with local residents and visitors alike.” 

The purchase took place shortly before the site was due to be sold at auction and was made possible by a recent bequest to the Brontë Society. Funding for the refurbishment will be sought from external sources.