Banagher Brontë Group members meet the Queen in Yorkshire

MEMBERS of the Banagher Brontë Group were in exalted company last week when they met Queen Camilla in Yorkshire, England.
James Scully and Nicola Daly of the Group travelled over for the official opening of the Brontë Birthplace in Thornton, a duty which was performed by the Queen.“Thornton is a village between Haworth and Bradford in Yorkshire,” explained James, when speaking afterwards with the Tribune. “Both Myself and Nicola were invited to attend the ceremonies (at short notice due to security surrounding the event) but we were allowed to meet the monarch at close quarters, chat with her and give a resumé of the strong association between Banagher and the Brontë family. Queen Camilla is a very keen Brontë admirer and was surprised at the detail and strength of the link between the Bells of Banagher and the Brontës of Haworth.”At the end of the official proceedings, James and Nicola presented a small sculpture to be displayed in the birthplace. The piece was designed by Helen Conneely of Celtic Roots Studio, Ballinahown, and is in bog oak depicting the ancient Irish legend of the Salmon of Knowledge.Moves are afoot to foster exchange visits between groups from Banagher and Thornton. Nigel West, a leading member of the Thornton project, has a direct genealogical link with the Bell family of Hill House in Banagher (now Charlotte’s Way B&B, run by Nicola). Nigel has been pivotal to all that has happened to date bringing the two towns closer together.The official opening took place last Thursday, May 15, 210 years after the Brontë family moved to Thornton in May 1815. The Brontë Birthplace is the house where Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne Brontë were born.
The Queen was greeted at the old butcher’s shop entrance, where she was gifted a poem and posy by two children volunteers and was welcomed by current and former committee members, patrons and supporters.
In the scullery, the Queen joined local school children taking part in an educational activity inspired by the “Be More Brontë” initiative. The children shared their interpretations of what it means to Be More Brontë — from being bold and creative to pushing through life’s challenges with resilience and imagination.
Upstairs in “Charlotte’s Room,” which is now used as one of the building's overnight stay bedrooms, the Queen was warmly greeted by Nigel West, along with James and Nicola.
Chair of the Brontë Birthplace committee, Katharine Barnett, said the house is no longer “just a place of literary history — it is a living, breathing space filled with creativity, education, and community pride.” The General Manager of the Brontë Birthplace said the committee and volunteers had “worked tirelessly to restore and reimagine the house”, and it was special to share it with the Queen, the local community and Brontë lovers. She said the historic day was made possible thanks to the generous support of Bradford City of Culture 2025, the Community Ownership Fund, the Rural England Prosperity Fund, National Lottery Heritage Fund and “the passion of over 700 community shareholders, volunteers, and friends.”