Bosses face cash and refurbishment problems

The single-storey building is in need of a major restoration but the owner, Haworth Parish Church, says it does not have the cash or expertise. It is estimated that just short of £1 million will be needed – not only to repair the roof, which has dry rot, but to complete the refurbishment.

Patrick Bronte was the father of the famous 19th century literary sisters Charlotte, Emily and Anne. He was the priest at Haworth Parish Church from 1820 to 1861.

The Old School Room, which is next to the parish church and the Haworth Parsonage where the family lived, was built as a ‘national’ style school by Mr Bronte in 1832, then extended in 1850 and 1871.

The building housed a school where Charlotte, Emily and Anne, together with their brother Branwell, worked as teachers.

The church committee charged with maintaining the premises is called the Bronte Spirit.

Chairman Averil Kenyon said: “We had high hopes of gaining funding several years ago but were unable to take the project past the development stage for many reasons.

“Haworth Parish Church has its hands full seeking funding to undertake its own restoration and, while they are making progress, there is simply not enough cash or people to help us advance the Old School Room project.

“Now the roof needs at least £12,000 spending on it to keep the building even reasonably water tight through next winter.

“On top of that thieves have again raided the lead from the roof and we’ve suffered some water damage as a result.”

Mrs Kenyon said: “If no solution is found in the next three or four months, the building will suffer more serious damage and become even more expensive to restore.

“We have to find a solution and one of the options we and the church’s council are considering is whether the Old School Room could be sold as a housing or development project.

“That would be heart-breaking but we’re running out of answers, money, people and time.”

• Read more in Thursday’s T&A