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Anne Bronte’s connection to Scarborough

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The youngest member of the Brontë family had a special connection to Scarborough.

Anne Brontë, the youngest of the famous Brontë sisters, had a special connection to the coastal town of Scarborough, which played a pivotal role in her final days. Her time in Scarborough and her burial at St. Mary’s Church offers a poignant chapter in her life and a deep link between the author and the town itself.

Scarborough UK.

Who was Anne Brontë?

Anne Brontë, the youngest of the celebrated Brontë literary family, was an English novelist and poet. She spent most of her life in the parish of Howarth, nestled in the Yorkshire Dales. Between 1836 and 1837, Anne attended a boarding school in Mirfield, and from 1839 to 1845, she left home to work as a governess.

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In 1846, Anne collaborated with her sisters to publish a collection of poems, followed by her groundbreaking novels, which she wrote under Acton Bell. Her debut novel, Agnes Grey, hit the shelves in 1847, coinciding with the publication of her sister Emily’s Wuthering Heights. Anne’s second novel, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, was published in 1848. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is often considered one of the first feminist novels.

Anne passed away at the age of 29 due to pulmonary tuberculosis. Following her death, her sister Charlotte took to edit Agnes Grey to address various issues found in its initial edition. Still, she ultimately blocked the republication of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Consequently, Anne has gained less recognition than her sisters. However, both of her novels are regarded as classics in English literature.


Anne found a love for Scarborough

From 1840 to 1845, Anne Brontë served as a governess at Thorp Green Hall, a comfortable country residence near York. She was responsible for educating the Reverend Edmund Robinson’s children, including Lydia, Elizabeth, Mary, and Edmund. The house inspired the fictional Horton Lodge in her novel Agnes Grey.

Initially, Anne faced challenges similar to those she had encountered at Blake Hall; she often felt homesick and yearned to be with her family. In a diary entry in 1841, she expressed her dissatisfaction with her circumstances and desire to leave. However, Anne’s quiet and gentle nature eventually worked in her favour, allowing her to thrive in her role.

Over time, she gained the affection of her employers, and the Robinson girls became lifelong friends.

Scarborough Flowers.

Anne could only spend five or six weeks with her family each year, during the holidays in December and June. Most of her time was dedicated to her role with the Robinson family. She joined them on their vacations to Scarborough yearly, where she cherished around five weeks each summer from 1840 to 1844.

The coastal town inspired several settings in her novels, and she took the opportunity to collect semi-precious stones, reflecting her interest in geology. She incorporated this theme into her writing to highlight men’s and women’s equality.


Anne Brontë’s ill health

During winter 1848, the family battled coughs and colds, and Emily’s condition took a severe turn for the worse. Over two months, she grew increasingly ill and tragically, Emily passed away at the age of 30.

Emily’s death left Anne profoundly affected, and her grief began to take a toll on her health. During Christmas, Anne contracted influenza, and her condition worsened. In early January, their father called for a physician from Leeds, who diagnosed her with advanced consumption and offered little hope for recovery.

Despite this grim prognosis, Anne faced the situation with determination and composure. In a letter to Ellen Nussey, she candidly revealed her frustrations about her unfulfilled ambitions:

“I have no horror of death: if I thought it inevitable I think I could quietly resign myself to the prospect … But I wish it would please God to spare me not only for Papa’s and Charlotte’s sakes but because I long to do some good in the world before I leave it. I have many schemes in my head for future practise – humble and limited indeed – but still I should not like them all to come to nothing, and myself to have lived to so little purpose. But God’s will be done.”

She wrote her last poem, A Dreadful Darkness Closes In, in which she deals with being terminally ill. Her health fluctuated for months, but she grew thinner and weaker.


Anne went to Scarborough to see if the sea air would help her to recover

In February, Anne appeared to be feeling somewhat better and decided to make a trip to Scarborough, hoping that the change of scenery and fresh sea air would help her. Initially, Charlotte opposed the idea, concerned that the journey could be too taxing for her sister. However, her worries eased once the doctor approved it, and Anne insisted it was her last hope.

Scarborough Beach.

On May 24th, 1849, Anne set off for Scarborough accompanied by Charlotte and Ellen Nussey. They spent a day and night in York on their way, where they pushed Anne in a wheelchair, indulged in a bit of shopping, and visited York Minster. It was evident, however, that Anne’s strength was dwindling.


Anne’s final days in Scarborough

On Sunday, May 27th, Anne shared her feelings with Charlotte, expressing a strong desire to return home. She contemplated whether passing away there would be easier than staying in Scarborough. The next day, after consulting a doctor, they received the sombre news that death was near. Anne accepted this reality quietly and conveyed her love to Ellen and Charlotte, gently encouraging Charlotte to “take courage.”

Anne Brontë 1820-1849 died in Scarborough on May 28th 1849 | Image credit: Spudgun67, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Anne passed away on Monday, May 28th, 1849, around two o’clock in the afternoon, at 29. In her memory, Charlotte decided to “lay the flower where it had fallen,” resulting in Anne’s burial in Scarborough. The funeral service took place on May 30th, though their father, Patrick Brontë, was unable to make the 70-mile (110 km) journey due to the distance.


St. Mary’s Church and Anne’s grave

Anne was interred in the churchyard of St. Mary’s, located beneath the castle walls and overlooking the bay. To commemorate her, Charlotte commissioned a gravestone to honour Anne’s resting place.

Anne Bronte’s tombstone. Anne died of tubercelosis and on the tombstone her age was recorded at 28 when in fact she was 29. | Image credit: Scott Rimmer, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“Here lie the remains of Anne Brontë, daughter of the Revd P. Brontë, Incumbent of Haworth, Yorkshire. She died Aged May 28th 1849.”

Three years later, during her visit to the grave, Charlotte observed several errors on the headstone and took steps to have it refaced. Unfortunately, one mistake persisted; the inscription incorrectly indicated that Anne was 28 at the time of her passing instead of the correct age of 29.

In 2011, the Brontë Society placed a new plaque at Anne Brontë’s grave, as the original gravestone had become partially illegible and could not be restored. The original stone was left untouched, while the new plaque was installed horizontally to correct the inaccuracies and interpret the fading inscriptions.

Anne Bronte Grave.

In April 2013, the Brontë Society held a dedication and blessing service at the gravesite to honour the placement of the new plaque.


Scarborough as Part of Anne’s Legacy

Scarborough.

Scarborough’s association with Anne Brontë has become integral to the town’s literary heritage. The town itself, combining sea air and beauty, mirrors the tone of Anne’s writing, which often explores themes of nature, personal struggle, and endurance.

Today, Scarborough attracts Brontë enthusiasts, and St. Mary’s Church, with its views of the sea, is a place of reflection for those who seek to understand more about Anne’s life and work.


Anne Brontë’s connection to Scarborough, particularly in her final days, is deeply personal and historically significant. Her grave at St. Mary’s Church has become a place of reverence for admirers of her literary contributions. Scarborough, in turn, remains an enduring part of her legacy.

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