Anne Brontë

[1820-1849]



Anne Brontë was the youngest child of the Brontë family.

She wrote Agnes Grey [1847] and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall [1848].

She was born at Thornton on 17th January 1820.

She was baptised on 25th March 1820 in the Old Bell Chapel at Thornton. She was a delicate child and suffered from asthma.

In October 1835, she started as a pupil at Roe Head school, Mirfield. She received a good conduct prize at Roe Head [1836].

During the summer holidays in July 1837, she and Emily began to keep a diary.

In November 1837, she fell ill at Roe Head with a life-threatening illness.

She was visited by Moravian Minister James la Trobe. She returned to Haworth but, after recovering, did not return to Roe Head.

In 1839, she worked as a governess for the Ingham family. In December 1839, she was dismissed by the family on account of her difficulty in controlling the unruly children.

On 8th May 1840, she went to work as a governess to the children of the Rev Edmund and Mrs Lydia Robinson at Thorp Green Hall. This was to be longest period of employment for any of the Brontë children.

In July 1840, she went with the Robinson family on their annual holiday to Scarborough. Whilst there, Anne made a drawing called What you Please

In 1840, she may have fallen in love with William Weightman.

In July 1843, she spent 4 weeks at Scarborough.

In July 1844, she spent 5 five weeks at Scarborough. She wrote a poem entitled Fluctuations whilst she was there. At that time, she probably also have taught some of the Greenhow family.

In 1848, she had some of her poetry published in The Leeds Intelligencer and Fraser's Magazine.

On 5th January 1849, Doctor Teale diagnosed Anne with consumption.

She wanted to see the sea again at Scarborough, in the hope that the sea air and bathing might relieve her condition. On 25th May 1849, accompanied by Charlotte and Ellen Nussey, she arrived in Scarborough, staying 1 night in York en route. A legacy from Anne's godmother, Fanny Outhwaite, made the trip possible.

They stayed at 2 St Nicholas Cliff. During her illness, she took cod-liver oil and used a respirator.

On 26th May 1849, she went swimming at the baths alone, but collapsed. In the afternoon, she drove herself on the South Sands in a donkey cart. On 27th May 1849, she walked along the Spa Bridge, with Charlotte and Ellen, but she had to sit down exhausted and realised that she did not have long to live. She discussed with Charlotte about returning to Haworth but it was too late.

She died at Scarborough at the age of 29 on 28th May 1849.

She was buried at St Mary's, Scarborough – the rest of the family were buried in the family vault at Haworth church. Charlotte, Ellen Nussey and Margaret Wooler were at the funeral.


HERE
LIE THE REMAINS OF
ANNE Brontë
DAUGHTER OF THE
REVD P Brontë,
Incumbent of Haworth Yorkſhire
She died. Aged 28
MAY 28TH 1849

In 1852, Charlotte visited the grave and reported 5 mistakes in the headstone, and gave instructions for the epitaph to be corrected:

  1. LIES instead of LIE

  2. The age should be 29 – this was never corrected

  3. ?

  4. ?

  5. ?


Question: Does anyone know what the other mistakes on the headstone were?

 




© Malcolm Bull 2024
Revised 13:16 / 14th December 2024 / 7564

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