Emily Brontë Sent to Clergy Daughters' School

Emily Brontë, along with her three elder sisters, was sent to the Clergy Daughters' School at Cowan Bridge in Lancashire. At the time of admission, Emily was the youngest student at just six years old. The school, which had recently opened, aimed to provide education to the daughters of clergy members. Upon her entry, the school register noted that Emily 'reads very prettily, and works a little.' However, the educational environment was far from ideal. The sisters had previously received no formal education, and the transition to this institution was marked by significant challenges. Charlotte, one of Emily's sisters, later reported that she struggled with basic subjects, indicating the lack of foundational education they had received prior to attending the school. The conditions at Cowan Bridge were harsh and detrimental to the health and well-being of the students. The children faced severe privations, including inadequate food and unsanitary living conditions. The discipline enforced at the school was strict, and the students were subjected to frequent outbreaks of contagious diseases, notably typhoid and tuberculosis. These factors contributed to a negative educational experience, which ultimately impacted the sisters' health. The harsh realities of their time at Cowan Bridge would later influence Emily's literary work, as she and her sisters sought solace in their imaginations and writing, laying the groundwork for their future contributions to literature.