I think Gary is starting to wonder if this was really a tour for English Lit Majors (and isn’t sure that’s what he signed up for!). But, alas, I am enjoying getting to know a little more background and to experience firsthand what life was like for these individuals who created works of art that have stood the test of time.

We made a visit to Haworth, the Parsonage home of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë. A humble abode, a sheltered life, and much loss (the death of their mother at a young age, and the early deaths of Emily and Anne as well as their sole brother leaving Charlotte alone to carry on). It’s remarkable that under these circumstances some great and long-standing literature emerged. I wonder what they could have accomplished with more time and better circumstances? I don’t have pictures from this little museum, but I do have a charming picture from the local pub where we enjoyed a delightful dinner! Can’t say enough about pub life in the UK…typically pretty delicious food, comfy surroundings and friendly staff.

A quick stop in Chesterfield to admire the crooked spire of the Church of Saint Mary and All Saints. This landmark gives the local football team the unusual name ‘The Spireites’…the players must love that!

We’ll continue to see evidence of King Henry the VIII’s destruction of the landmarks of the early Catholic Church across England, and that includes this stop at Bolton Abbey (as well as an upcoming stop in York). At Bolton we took the opportunity for a fabulous hike along the River Wharfe, a truly spectacular setting.

Stopped at another estate near York, Castle Howard. In a lot more need of repair and restoration than Blenheim, Belvoir, and certainly Chatsworth (this home suffered several catastrophic fires that destroyed not only the original dome but several parts of the home and much priceless art work). The current Howard family inhabitant has lots of plans for restoration, but I imagine funding is a challenge. This estate was used in the filming of Brideshead Revisted, and Death Comes to Pemberley (check that out on PBS if you haven’t yet watched it, Mathew Rhys plays Mr. Darcy) AND was used as the home of the Duke of Hastings in Bridgerton!