The rugged beauty of Yorkshire, forever linked to Emily Brontë's 'Wuthering Heights,' is bracing for another wave of visitors, but the locals? They're remarkably unfazed!
For years, the windswept moors and the four-mile trek from Haworth village to Top Withens have drawn pilgrims seeking the very landscape that ignited Emily Brontë's imagination for her 1847 novel, Wuthering Heights. This iconic setting, characterized by rolling hills of desolate brown bracken and a solitary, striking tree, offers a scene of haunting, bleak beauty.
With the upcoming release of Emerald Fennell's new film adaptation, starring the luminous Margot Robbie and the captivating Jacob Elordi, Haworth and the surrounding Yorkshire Dales national park – the very heart of Brontë country – are anticipating a significant influx of tourists. But here's the interesting part: the local residents seem remarkably calm about the prospect.
“We’re used to crowds,” states Craig Verity, the genial landlord of The Kings Arms, a pub perched at the top of Haworth's steep, cobbled Main Street, just a stone's throw from the parsonage where the Brontë siblings were raised. This sentiment echoes throughout the village, which has been skillfully leveraging its literary heritage for decades.
Inside The Kings Arms, you'll find a testament to this enduring connection: a display board proudly showcasing a range of Bridgehouse cask ales, each named after the Brontë siblings – Charlotte, Anne, Emily, and even Branwell, the often-overlooked brother. The surrounding streets continue this theme, with establishments like the Brontë Hotel, the Brontë Bar and Restaurant, and even a surprisingly named Brontë Balti, all playing on the famous family's legacy.
The Brontë Parsonage, the very home where the sisters lived, wrote, and, in the poignant cases of Emily and Charlotte, passed away, now serves as a museum. It houses a treasure trove of artifacts, personal belongings, and manuscripts, and regularly hosts engaging events such as workshops, insightful talks, and screenings of book adaptations. This beloved institution already welcomes around 75,000 visitors annually, a number that is almost certain to see an increase this year. In fact, a screening of the 1992 film adaptation, starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliet Binoche, scheduled for February 12th, has already completely sold out!
Speaking of that 1992 version, some of its scenes were filmed at East Riddlesden Hall, a magnificent 17th-century National Trust property located about five miles from Haworth. This very hall's exterior also made an appearance in the 2009 mini-series, portraying Wuthering Heights itself, and even featured in the now-lost 1920 silent film adaptation. But here's where it gets interesting: the iconic 1939 film starring Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon was actually shot across the pond in California and on a Hollywood set!
Sophie Fawcett, a senior marketing and communications officer with the National Trust, shared how they learned about East Riddlesden Hall's cinematic past: “We only know about the use of the property because of a January 1921 article in the Shipley Times and Express.”
To coincide with the release of Fennell's new film, East Riddlesden Hall is presenting a captivating exhibition titled 'Lights, Camera, Brontë.' This exhibition will feature fascinating items, such as the “vast oak dresser” that is believed to have inspired the very dresser described in the opening pages of the novel. This piece originally came from Ponden Hall, a charming bed and breakfast located about an hour's walk from Haworth, and a place the Brontë sisters frequented.
One room at Ponden Hall even boasts a box bed and window that are likely candidates for inspiring the scene where Cathy's ghost famously appears to a terrified Lockwood. And this is the part most people miss...
For the latest film production, the cast and crew found a luxurious home away from home at Simonstone Hall, a sumptuous country house hotel nestled within the Yorkshire Dales. It's a scenic 20-minute drive from the hotel to Swaledale, where a significant portion of the filming took place.
Jake Dinsdale, the owner of Simonstone Hall, fondly recalls the cast: “They were lovely people, and brilliantly undemanding.” He noted that Margot Robbie has even returned for a stay with her husband since the filming. He added, “Although they’d booked out all 20 rooms, our restaurant was still open to the public, and the cast enjoyed being around the firepit to toast s’mores, or sitting down to a roast dinner or afternoon tea.”
Dinsdale himself maintains a refreshingly relaxed outlook: “I don’t know what the film will do. It could all be a flash in the pan, and that’s fine. If it sticks, that’s also great. What I do know is that I won’t be renaming any rooms as ‘The Jacob Elordi Room’ or ‘The Heathcliff Room.’ Commercial naffness isn’t for us – I’ll just be happy if guests understand why so many people love the Yorkshire Dales.”
In the spirit of embracing the literary connection, Simonstone Hall is currently offering a 'Wuthering Heights Romantic Getaway' package until March 13th. For £738 per couple, guests can enjoy a two-night stay complete with champagne on arrival, candlelit dinners, bedtime brandy and truffles, leisurely breakfasts, and a late checkout. You can even pick up a copy of the novel from their gift shop!
Tony Watson, head of economy and tourism for North Yorkshire council, commented on the area's experience with film tourism: “The area has featured in so many films and series; we’re experienced in managing that. Post-Covid, we were already seeing more younger people getting outdoors and exploring the county, and this demographic will doubtless grow as the film showcases the area’s beauty and authenticity.” He added, “We’ll have to wait until the release to see whether there’s some iconic shot that people want to replicate. If there is, hopefully it will be somewhere like Aysgarth Falls, which has all of the necessary infrastructure in place – otherwise, we’ll need to suggest alternatives that don’t make mountain rescue unhappy.”
Back at The Kings Arms, local resident Jack Greatrex offers a grounded perspective: “The Brontë sisters shaped this village for future generations, and for lovers of landscape and literature. This film could mean that they continue to do so.”
Watson concludes with an optimistic outlook: “I’m the luckiest head of tourism imaginable – the film is going to do my job for me.”
What are your thoughts on how the tourism industry handles literary and film-inspired travel? Do you think it enhances the experience or can it sometimes detract from the authenticity of a place? Share your opinions in the comments below!
