Off to Banagher to meet the relatives.
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 decide which they may have taken.
One theory is that they would have taken the train from Dublin to Birr which is the nearest station to Banagher and then a short horse drawn journey to their family home. However, Birr station only opened in 1858, so this theory cannot be correct.
Theory 1
A second theory is they took the train to Roscrea & Borris station which is now known as Ballybrophy and then a 3 - 4 hour 30 mile (48 km) horse drawn road journey to Banagher. This is feasible. The train journey of about 70 miles (120kms) would take about 3 to 3.5 hours with average 19th century train speeds of 21 mph. (Harriet Martineau worked out the average train speed from a tour of Ireland she had undertaken in 1852). Total journey time approximately 7-8 hours.
The third theory is that they took a train from Dublin to Athlone. This journey would take approximately 4 hours and was on the same route Harriet Martineau had travelled in 1852, although she had gone further, travelling all the way to Galway on the west coast. Arthur, Charlotte and their relatives would then have picked up a Shannon steamer in Athlone to sail south to Banagher. The Shannon steamers met the train from Dublin at 10a.m. at Athlone and then conveyed passengers down the Shannon as far as Killaloe near to Limerick calling at Banagher en route. The Athlone to Banagher river Shannon steamer would have taken approximately 3+ hours. Total journey time 7-8 hours.
Theory 3
Here is an advert for the train and steamer from Athlone to Banagher. See the section ATHLONE TO KILLALOE.
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From the 'Illustrated Tourist's Handbook' of 1854
So here we have two feasible options. But which of the two would Arthur have chosen for his new bride and family: train and horse drawn carriage or train and a cruise down the Shannon to Banagher? Some argue that as Charlotte was feeling quite ill, Arthur would have chosen the direct train to Athlone and the gentler boat journey which is less jarring than road travel. What we can safely say, however, is that Arthur would have known the best option as he had travelled back to Banagher many times over the years and would consequently know the pros and cons of all possible routes.
The point of the above speculation is to show that Charlotte and Arthur's honeymoon in 1854, involved some long journey times whichever route they took. What we in 2022 did in one and three quarter hours using one mode of transport would have taken them around 8+ hours, travelling by train and road or by train and steamer, both followed by a further short road journey home.
Charlotte might well have been poorly, but she showed she had grit and determination to get to her new husband's home at Cuba Court, Banagher. It is reminiscent of the grit and determination she showed to get to her publisher's office in Cornhill London when she went with Anne in 1848 to prove that the Bell sisters were three different authors. Then they travelled from Keighley to Leeds taking the night train to London arriving at 8a.m. in the morning at the Paternoster Row lodgings. They had a quick wash, ate some breakfast and headed off to see George Smith at 65 Cornhill. I think it is fair to say that Charlotte was no shrinking violet. If a journey was needed and was worth doing, she would do it.
She would not be disappointed. Her efforts would be rewarded. When she arrived at Cuba Court, she was very impressed, not only with the scale of the grand house but also with Arthur, his relatives and with the tender loving care she would receive from his Aunt Harriet to make her better and nurse her back to good health..
For the first time since leaving Haworth on Thursday 29th June, 1854, arriving in Conwy, travelling on to Bangor and driving up through the Llanberis Pass to Beddgelert return, then sailing across to Dublin, arriving on Tuesday 4th July with two days touring the city, Charlotte finally arrived on Friday 7th July into the warm embrace of a loving, new family. She could finally stop, rest and recover.
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