Charlotte Bronte and Arthur Bell Nicholl's Honeymoon, 1854.

 We can’t know for certain, but it is quite probable that Arthur would have taken Charlotte out and about to get to know his home town of Banagher. (N.B. the ‘g’ in Banagher is silent!) There are places in the town which, more than likely, were of great interest to Charlotte given her interest in history and politics.  As she started to improve health wise, thanks mostly to Aunt Harriet’s kind nursing skills, the newlyweds probably strolled around the grounds of Cuba House and then on into town. If she was still feeling a tad tired, maybe they would have taken a pony and trap to get to see some of the historical places on offer in Banagher. When we arrived in Banagher on a Sunday evening in August 2022 and looked down the Main Street, we thought there would be little of interest here. But how deceptive first impressions can be! We were to discover that Banagher is full of history, life and the most delightful and friendly people. Maybe Charlotte too discovered the same thing 168 years

 Charlotte and Arthur, accompanied by Arthur’s brother Allen and his cousins Mary Anna and Joseph, all arrived back at their family home Cuba court. Arthur, aged 7 and Allen aged 9 had been sent there in 1825 to be brought up by their uncle and aunt as their parents were struggling financially to raise their 10 children. Passing through the gates of Cuba Court and driving up the lime tree lined driveway to the large and imposing house, Charlotte must have been impressed and possibly a little surprised.  In her letter of 10 July,1854 to Margaret Wooler she wrote, “I cannot help feeling singularly interested in all about the place… it is very large and looks externally like a gentleman’s country seat - within most of the rooms are lofty and spacious and some - the drawing-room - dining room &c. handsomely and commodiously furnished…” Maurice Craig (1919-2011) an Irish architectural historian, described Cuba Court as “ perhaps the most splendidly masculine house in the whole country&#

 Charlotte was not feeling well due to her bad cough and cold so Charlotte's and Arthur's stay in Dublin was cut short. After two days of driving around Dublin and visiting Arthur's alma mater, Trinity College Dublin, the newlyweds set off with Arthur's brother Allen, and his two cousins Joseph and Mary Anna Bell. They travelled to Cuba Court, in Banagher, the family home of the Bells, where Arthur and Allen had been brought up by his uncle and aunt. But how did they travel to Banagher which is in the Irish Midlands? When we undertook the journey, we drove from Trinity College, Dublin to Banagher via the M4 and M6 and it took approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes to travel 89 miles (142kms). But Charlotte's and her new family's journey would have taken a lot longer and would not have been so simple. No one knows for sure which route they took. There are several options suggested by different commentators. Let's take a look at three of them. Maybe then you can

                                 Charlotte and Arthur spent just two days in Dublin, less  time than they had anticipated, as the cough that Charlotte had developed since her wedding day had been worsening. Nevertheless, the newlyweds enjoyed two days, sometimes in the company of Arthur’s brother Allen and his two cousins Joseph and Mary Anna. Arthur wanted to show Charlotte his alma mater, Trinity College, Dublin. So we too went there to enjoy and see what they did. They (and we) walked through the grand archway. They would have walked towards the Campanile which was new to Arthur too as it was built between 1852-4. Arthur graduated in 1844. Charlotte and Arthur enjoyed a visit to the Old Library which dated from 1732. When they visited, it had a flat plaster ceiling  and the bookshelves were on the lower level. Marble busts line what is known as the Long Room, these are of great philosopher's, writers of the western world and men associated with Trinity College Dublin. The bust c