I remember my aunt telling me a story aabout someone in my family who saw Charlotte Brontë walking to church on her wedding day. I had spoken about it with my cousin, while we were doing the family research together and we were never sure whether we should believe it. But now we know that it was at least possible.
My great grandmother, Sybil, was a schoolmistress at the National School in Haworth in 1854, the year that Charlotte was married to Arthur Bell Nicholls. The school was started by Charlotte’s father Rev Patrick Brontë and subsequently overseen by the Rev Nicholls.
James was appointed Headmaster by Rev Nicholls in 1855. Sadly, by the time he arrived Charlotte had already died of hyperemsis gravidurum (extreme sickness during pregnancy).
We don’t yet know whether James and Sybil came to this school straight from their training colleges or if either of them had a spell teaching elsewhere. They were both listed in the 1857 Post Office directory of Haworth. Sybil was still listed by her maiden name, although they did marry during that year. Anyway, during the space between the 1851 and the 1861 census they had both arrived in Haworth married and moved on.
We’re trying to fill in some gaps with the help of the Brontë Society and another small charity which looks after the old school room. James went on to have a long career teaching in schools around Bradford and I am going to research that at the City Archives and Central Library.
One Anne and Her Dog 
An interesting tale Anne and something worth researching. Do you live nearby, because I’ve found research like this impossible via the internet. I have a very vague memory of visiting Haworth as a young boy with my mum who had a sister who lived in Keighley. I can remember absolutely nothing about it, but you have triggered a memory of sorts!🙏🙏
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My cousin lives in the village next door to Haworth and I live less than 20 miles away so we are both very familiar with the village And its literary connections. This year is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Rev Patrick Brontë and there are a lot of talks, exhibitions, etc happening.
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