Bronte Museum’s £60,000 revamp (From Ilkley Gazette)
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Bronte Museum’s £60,000 revamp
7:00am Sunday 24th February 2013 in Local news
From left, Keighley town mayor Councillor George Metcalf, Bronte Parsonage Museum executive director Professor Ann Sumner and Terry Suthers, Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire
More than 300 people gathered to celebrate the re-opening of the Bronte Parsonage Museum following a £60,000 refurbishment.
Guests congregated at the Old Schoolroom, opposite the Parsonage, for wine and a buffet supper.
Among those at the event was the museum’s new executive director Professor Ann Sumner, of Ilkley, who outlined the work that had taken place, announced a new website and spoke about a recent conference – ReVisioning the Brontes – held at Leeds University.
Speeches were also given by Bronte Society chairman Sally McDonald and Terry Suthers, Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.
Others present included Bronte scholars Jane Sellars and Rebecca Fraser, the Earl and Countess of Harewood, Keighley town mayor Councillor George Metcalf and Yorkshire artist Ashley Jackson.
The guests then made their way across to the museum for the unveiling of its new look, featuring bespoke wallpapers based on those which had hung in the Parsonage during the Brontes’ residence there.
Detailed scientific analysis had been carried out of the property’s 19th-century decor to recreate the authentic appearance. Also, several new acquisitions were on display including six letters from Charlotte Bronte to Ellen Nussey, Charlotte’s silk, fringed parasol, and a masonic apron with symbols painted by Branwell Bronte.
The apron was donated by the family of Branwell’s friend and fellow mason, William Thomas.
