A glimpse of Brontë country

November 20, 2022November 20, 2022 / mikeosbornphoto / Leave a comment

Haworth is a picturesque Yorkshire village famous for being the home of literary giants the Brontës.

It’s a train and bus ride away from my home in Manchester, and I paid a visit on a sunny autumn day.

Enjoy the photographs and read more below

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When you arrive in Howarth on the Brontë bus from Hebden Bridge you’re drawn up hilly Main Street, lined with dark stone cottages and a plethora of shops and eating stops for visitors.

At the top of the hill is the little parish church and parsonage, home to the Brontë family and the sisters who penned Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre among others there.

The Brontës lived at Howarth Parsonage

The graveyard is filled with old headstones and was intensely atmospheric yet peaceful under the dappled autumn sunlight.

It’s impossible not to contemplate where the Brontës trod and what their lives were like in this remote place.

There are various pathways leading out of the village and to the beautiful surrounding countryside. You can take a lengthy hike to the Brontë waterfall or a gentler meander to Howarth viewpoints like I did.

A last essential stop was a delicious plate of pie and chips at The Fleece Inn, one of Howarth’s surprisingly numerous pubs.

The village is a real mecca for literary types and casual tourists alike and can get very busy. A weekday out of season would be my tip for a contemplative, memorable visit.

Northern cool

May 26, 2019May 23, 2019 / mikeosbornphoto / 6 Comments

A train ride across the Pennines from Manchester whisked me to the West Yorkshire city of Wakefield.

I headed to The Hepworth Gallery, named after artist Barbara Hepworth, who was born there in 1903. It’s a sleek, contemporary building created by David Chipperfield and an unexpected sight in the heart of post-industrial Yorkshire.

I stalked the lofty rooms and corridors, finding delectable shadow, light and lines to capture. But before heading outside to do the same, enjoyed a photography exhibition and inevitably some cake in the gallery cafe.

This is a cool, modern place and well worth visiting if you find yourself anywhere in the north of England.

Click first images to view the galleries

INSIDE

OUTSIDE

Handsome Halifax

January 7, 2018January 6, 2018 / mikeosbornphoto / 10 Comments

This is another trip across the Pennines from Manchester, to the West Yorkshire town of Halifax.

The main attraction was The Piece Hall, a grand cloth trading building recently restored as a place to shop and pass the time.

It’s a magnificent piece of architecture, now with a modern piazza at its heart. My rain-speckled visit also took in the beautiful cathedral – and even a wonderful town centre Art Deco elephant. Handsome place, well worth seeing.