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The Bronte sisters and Cowan Bridge School
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"Cowan
Bridge is a cluster of some six or seven cottages, gathered together
at both ends of a bridge, over which the high road from Leeds
to Kendal crosses a little stream, called the Leck. This high
road is nearly disused now; but formerly, when the buyers from
the West Riding manufacturing districts had frequent occasion
to go up into the North to purchase the wool of the Westmoreland
and Cumberland farmers, it was doubtless much travelled; and perhaps
the hamlet of Cowan's Bridge had a more prosperous look than it
bears at present."
Elizabeth Gaskell; "The Life of Charlotte Bronte"
(1857)
Take
a 360 degree outside Clergy Daughters School Cowan Bridge here...
Patrick
found the strain of bringing up a family difficult and in 1824
decided to send Maria, Elizabeth, Charlotte and Emily to the recently
opened Clergy Daughters' School at Cowan Bridge. In June 1825
Charlotte and her sisters were finally taken away from the school
for good. however Maria and Elizabeth died of consumption soon
after returning to Haworth. The poor conditions while at the school
were largely to blame.
The experience of Cowan Bridge and the loss of her sisters had
an affect on Charlotte. Her novel Jane Eyre (1846) the
school Lowood is said to be based on her experience at
Cowan Bridge.
Maria, Elizabeth, Charlotte &
Emily Bronte
Lived here as pupils of the
Clergy Daughter's School 1824-25,
The School was moved to Casterton
1833
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"just
where the Leck-fells swoop into the plain; and by the course of
the beck alder-trees and willows and hazel bushes grow. The current
of the stream is interrupted by broken pieces of grey rock; and
the waters flow over a bed of large round white pebbles, which
a flood heaves up and moves on either side out of its impetuous
way till in some parts they almost form a wall."
Elizabeth Gaskell; "The Life of Charlotte Bronte"
(1857)
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