Heathcliff in Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights

Heathcliff makes the dating pool look rather bleak. If you do, against your better instincts, go on a date with this man you will notice that he’s moody, obsessive, and definitely not over his ex, Cathy. He lurks around Cathy’s home, looking threatening, and when she dies, Heathcliff decides to open up her grave to hug her, as well as destroy the lives of all those in his orbit (all completely normal behavior). 

Incredibly, Heathcliff gets married. You will stumble across his Instagram profile, years after dating him, and see he married a woman named Isabella. Immediately, you will recognize that this woman is miserable and so is Heathcliff, and things not working out between you two was the ultimate lucky escape. This two-minute analysis is bang on. Heathcliff calls his wife, Isabella, a “wicked slut” and throws a knife at her. Isabella says of Heathcliff: “I gave him my heart, and he took and pinched it to death; and flung it back at me.” 

In summary, every bad romantic move Heathcliff makes can be linked back to Cathy. Just replace “Cathy” with “art” and this is the modern-day f boy you are dealing with: the tortured artist. [...]

Mr. Rochester in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre

Poor Jane. Initially, Mr. Rochester seems like a total catch (they always do). He’s intelligent and affluent and he treats her as an equal. He only asks that she ignore the strange noises coming from the top floor of his home. But on their wedding day, Jane learns Mr. Rochester is married and—it gets worse—he keeps Bertha, his wife, in the attic. He tries to pass this off with a simple explanation (Bertha is mad!) and proposes a new plan (Jane move to France as his mistress!) but Jane doesn’t find this compelling, and neither do we. Oh sure, Bertha is “mad.” Is she also “shrill” and “hysterical,” Mr. Rochester? 

In wonderfully karmic news, Mr. Rochester does pay a price for his behavior, losing an arm and an eye in a fire started by Bertha, making him the lesser known and rarely seen of all the f boys: the reformed f boy. He learned his lesson to treat people nicely the hard way which is why Jane eventually does marry him. He is, at last, worthy of her. 

The second weekend of this year’s That Beats Banagher Festival was mostly dedicated to commemorating Charlotte Brontë and her husband Arthur Bell Nicholls of Banagher. The ten literary and heritage events held over the weekend were largely attended and enthusiastically received.

The programme began on Friday evening with the opening of an exhibition The Legacy of the Brontës in Banagher and showing of a related film by Maebh O’Regan. The exhibition showed through a variety of textile panels precious items connected with the Brontës which had come to Banagher in the 1860s. The work is an ongoing collaboration between the Banagher Crafting Group and Maebh O’Regan of the National College of Art and Design in Dublin. The exhibition will travel throughout County Offaly and elsewhere in the coming months.

This was followed by a reading from the well-known poet Eileen Casey of Birr and Dublin. Eileen read from her recent works Bog Treasure, Bogmen First and Last and Lives on the Line.

The evening concluded with the unveiling of three portraits by acclaimed artist Jennifer Kenny Phibbs of New York and Shannon Harbour. The portraits are of Arthur Bell Nicholls and his first wife Charlotte Brontë and his second wife Mary Anna Bell. Each portrait was beautifully rendered in an atmospheric sepia style and will go on public display in Banagher in August and Sepember.

Saturday commenced with the premiére of another Maebh O’Regan film called Arthur and Charlotte, A Victorian Romance, a miscellany of songs and readings written by James Scully and performed by the Martello Players. The performance was filmed in December 2019 and featured John Kennedy, Brendan Dolan, Michael and Angela Flannery, Michelle Flannery, all of Banagher, and Tullamore musician Val Hughes.

This was followed by a richly illustrated talk called Travelling with the Brontës eloquently delivered by Joanne Wilcock. Joanne is a very keen Brontë fan and has studied the travels of the Brontë family tracing their movements in great detail. Joanne lives in Affetside in Lancashire, just an hour from Haworth and this was her second visit to Banagher.

Frances Browner then spoke of her West Offaly roots and mused on her possible relationship with the Bell family of Banagher and Arthur Bell Nicholls in particular. She also read from her short story/memoir collection, You Could’ve Been Someone, in particular her delightful essay Mr Charlotte Brontë.

In the afternoon participants gathered in Saint Paul’s Church where Michael O’Dowd, author of Charlotte Brontë: An Irish Odyssey, My Heart is Knit to Him, The Honeymoon, (Pardus Media, 2021), reflected on the couple’s stay in Banagher specifically their visits to the church and Cuba House nearby. Michael also spoke of Charlotte’s familiarity with the bible and her interest in the writings of Saint Paul regarding the role of women in the church. Frances Browner also read from Pauline Clooney’s book Charlotte & Arthur (Merdog Books, 2021).

The party then adjourned to Hill House, now the well-appointed guest house known as Charlotte’s Way where the genial owner Nicola Daly spoke of her twenty years in the house and outlined her plans for the future.

James Scully then spoke of Arthur Bell Nicholl’s life as a small farmer/landlord in Banagher from the time of his return in 1861 until his death in 1906. Joanne Wilcock then read from Dear Martha by Geoffrey Palmer, a selection of letters written by Arthur in Hill House to the Brontë family’s long-serving maid, showing a new found contentment with his life back in Ireland.

Sunday morning began with the showing of a third film by Maebh O’Regan, The Discovery of the Brontë Family’s Portrait in Hill House, Banagher in 1914. This film stars local actors Nicola Daly, Saoirse Flynn, Cora Stronge Smith and Brendan Dolan. The film recreates in detail the amazing discovery of Branwell Brontë’s portrait of his three famous sisters seventy years after it had been created. The screenplay also traced the portrait’s journey from Banagher to the National Portrait Gallery in London where it still remains one of the most popular attractions.

Despite planning officers recommending the new tourism business be approved, Bradford councillors feared that the plan to turn the buildings at the top of Main Street into 11 aparthotel rooms would bring an influx of cars to the village, and put pressure on the area’s car parks.

The application had been submitted by Adrian Longthorne, and would have seen 1-3 West Lane and 14 The Fold converted – with a roof extension built on one of the properties.

It went before members of the Keighley and Shipley Area Planning Panel on Wednesday, when members heard that the buildings had been in a poor state for at least two decades.

Planning officer Mark Hutchinson referred to the fact that there was no dedicated parking for the 11 rooms, but added: “There are a number of car parks in Haworth, including one 30 metres away. The site will also generate custom from people who might not be car borne. Haworth is well served by public transport and the rooms might attract people walking the Pennine Way.” [...]

Haworth and Stanbury Parish Council and 25 other people had objected to the plans.

David Mahon, from the Parish Council, said: “We have major concerns about this development. The building is in a real bad state, and needs to be redeveloped.

“Eleven Airbnbs is excessive, and parking is already an issue at the top of the village. There are already a number of B&Bs up there that use the car parks. The West Lane car park is full every day from visitors to the Bronte Parsonage.”

Councillor Chris Herd (Cons, Worth Valley) said: “I have concerns over parking. You could have 11 vehicles coming here, you could have 20.”

Mr Hutchinson replied: “Equally, you could have none.”

llr Herd added: “It isn’t all about bringing in more tourism, it is about the lives of people who live in this area.”

Cllr Warnes said: “In a setting like Haworth, one of the jewels in the crown of our district, we need to get this right.

“There is nothing stopping the applicant from coming back with a plan that is more in keeping with the area.”

Members voted to refuse the application due to concerns about the impact on local roads and car parks and the amenity of neighbouring residents. (Chris Young)