Anne Bronte was the younger sister of Charlotte and Emily Bronte and, like her sisters, a writer whose novels are still popular today. I stumbled across her grave accidentally whilst on a trip “Op North” last year.
Anne Bronte was born on the 17 Jan 1820, the last of the children Maria and Patrick Bronte. She lived most of her life with her two novelist sisters, brother Branwell, and their father in Haworth, Yorkshire.
The Bronte siblings were very close to each other, with Anne being especially close to Emily. The four siblings invented a fantastical world called “Angria”, and explored it via games, poems, stories and plays. Outside their home, the moors became their playground. Later, Anne and Emily, created a separate world called Gondal together.
The family were not rich, and Anne, like her siblings, knew she had to find employment. But her options were limited due to to her social status, so she became a governess. Unfortunately, her first job at Blake Hall was not a success. She was unable to teach the ungovernable children in her care and forbidden from punishing them. The parents were unhappy with their children’s progress so let Anne go. It’s believed her time here inspired the novel “Agnes Grey”
“Agnes Grey”, along with “Wuthering Heights” by Emily and “The Professor”, by Charlotte, was touted around London publishers in 1846. The first two were accepted, and eventually “Jane Eyre”, Charlotte’s second novel was too. That was eventually published first, then “Wuthering Heights” and “Agnes Grey” together in 1847.
Anne’s second novel “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall”, was published in 1848. The themes of the novel mean it’s now considered one of the first feminist novels, and it received good reviews, but also criticism due to the central characters violation not only of social mores, but also the law of the land.
Around this time, tragedy began to beset the Brontes, a family who had already lost a mother and two elder sisters many years before. Branwell, who had long held problems with alcohol, died of unrelated causes in September 1848. Three months later, Emily, whom Anne had been closest to, also died, leaving her sister bereft. Not long after, she herself was diagnosed with Tuberculosis, with no hope of recovery.
Anne travelled with Charlotte to Scarborough, and died there on 28 May 28th 1849. And it’s here that she is buried, in St Mary’s churchyard, overlooking the sea.
The grave consists of the original gravestone, sadly illegible in places due to wear, and a horizontal plaque, installed 2011 by the Bronte Society.
It was a gloriously sunny day when we visited, and Anne’s grave has a lovely view over the bay. Whilst it is sad that Anne doesn’t lie with her two sister Emily and Charlotte, she does have a spectacular resting place. If you’re in the vicinity, it’s worth a visit.
Have you been here? Are you a fan of the Bronte’s? Let me know in the comments. And if you liked this, you can find a bunch of other authors graves over here.
Wordland 
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