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

 In a letter written from Kilkee to Catherine Wooler dated 18th July 1854, Charlotte said she spent a week with Arthur’s family at Cuba Court, Banagher, before finally setting off with her husband on the next leg of their honeymoon. Unbeknown to anyone, this would be her first and last visit to her relatives in Banagher. The couple were going to the coast - just the two of them. They would be alone together for the first time since Wales. Their destination was Kilkee in County Clare on the Wild Atlantic Coast.                                          Kilkee on the west coast of Ireland in County Clare.                                      This is the route Charlotte and Arthur would have taken to get to Kilkee from Banagher. They would have sailed down the Shannon for most of the journ...

 Arthur Bell Nicholls and his family worshipped at St Paul’s Church of Ireland church in Banagher. No doubt, Charlotte would have attended the church when she was there in July 1854 on her honeymoon with Arthur Bell Nicholls. St Paul’s Banagher. The church was built in 1829 and stands at the top of the hill overlooking the town of Banagher. It has an attractive spire rising out of a tower and has pre-Raphaelite stained-glass windows designed by Rev. A.L. Moore of London whose work can also be seen in Ely Cathedral. Internally there are wonderful timber box pews. Timber box pews. James Scully, a Banagher local historian, showing Joanne around St Paul’s Banagher.      There is an upstairs seating gallery by the organ. The organ was manufactured by a company called Conacher & Co from Huddersfield just 18 miles (29 kms) from Haworth! Small world! A little bit of West Yorkshire in Arthur’s church! I wonder if he knew? The East chancel window was paid for by Mary Anna,...