High Sunderland, Halifax

The sketch and description were originally published in The Halifax Courier in 1912-1913. A unique building, crumbling to pieces; but for unsightly buttresses some of the walls would fall; the pillars and figures on the south porch are crumbling and tottering, while the gateway, with its grotesque figures and beautiful carving is but a relic of former beauty. Its history is wrapped up with the Sunderland family for centuries. Architectural features apart, it has an interest as being one of the many homesteads said to have been the original of Emily Bronte’s ‘Wuthering Heights’. Whatever be the claims of other places, High Sunderland certainly gave Emily her description. Emily, who was teaching at Law Hill, Southowram (1836-7) would probably wander about Shibden Valley and High Sunderland must have had many attractions for her. PH/28.