Stoke on Trent celebrated submitting their City of Culture bid with an open air spectacular in front of Haney Town Hall. The performance involved drummers, an opera singer on the roof, fountains and fireworks. If this is the sort of entertainment we can expect in a City of Culture, 2021 will be a fantastic year.
The show was called ‘There’s Something in the Water, Duck’ and it was presented by Avanti. My pics don’t do it justice, so click here too
Haworth Parsonnage – home of the Bronte family: On April 1st-2nd, a few Staffordshire Uni English and Creative Writing students went on a trip to Haworth. On the Saturday we visited Haworth Parsonnage, home of the Bronte Family. On the Sunday we walked a total of 9 miles along the Pennine Way to Top Within: this now ruined farmhouse is said to have been the inspiration for the house called Wuthering Heights in Emily’s novel of the same name. Well worth it – and we had a lovely fine day. With thanks to Cathryn Hurd for many of these photos and for driving us!
This is where the magic happened: the table at which Charlotte wrote Jane Eyre and Emily wrote Wuthering Heights. The museum information described this desk as “One of the most important literary artefacts of the 19th century” – I’d say it’s one of the most important literary artefacts ever. The table was purchased and brought back into the home in 2015 at a price of £580,000. The family who sold the table to the Bronte Museum had used the table for their Christmas dinners…!
Everything stops for tea (and a coconut slice)
Getting into the Victorian vibe – what a lovely couple!
Setting off on a ramble up the Pennine Way towards Top Withen (why does this remind me a bit of the Tellytubbies…?).
Approaching Bronte Bridge
Gaining a little altitude – almost there!
The pen-name signatures of all three published Bronte sisters