The Clergy Daughters' School at Cowan Bridge, near Kirkby Lonsdale, was founded by Rev Carus Wilson in January 1824 for the daughters of impoverished vicars, curates, priests, and ministers.
Subscribers to the school included William Wilberforce, the Hull philanthropist and anti-slavery campaigner, and Hannah More, the religious writer. The buildings were originally a cottage and a bobbin-mill.
Pupils recorded at the school included
On 21st July 1824, Maria and Elizabeth were sent here.
Because of whooping cough, Charlotte enrolled at the school on 10th August 1824, and Emily followed on 1st November 1824.
In February 1825, Maria was diagnosed with consumption and returned home.
In May 1825, Elizabeth was diagnosed with consumption and returned home.
Because of their sisters' illness, Rev Brontë removed Charlotte and Emily from the school, and they returned home on 1st June 1825. The Brontë children were subsequently educated at home by their father and Aunt Branwell
In 1857, Sarah Crowther conducted an angry exchange with Rev Arthur Bell Nicholls widower of Charlotte Brontë in the columns of the Halifax Guardian concerning Mrs Gaskell's description of conditions at the school
In 1824, the fees were £14 per pupil per year, plus £1 admission fee, plus £3 for extras such as French, Music and Drawing.
The conditions at the school were unpleasant. On Sundays, the children had to walk to Tunstall Church where they spent the whole day. The food was bad and often inedible.
In early 1825, a typhus epidemic swept through the school. Some of those who died at the school are buried at nearby Leck Church.
The school moved to Casterton in 1833.
Charlotte's experiences at the school were to inspire much of Jane Eyre: she based Lowood School on Cowan Bridge School, and the Rev Brocklehurst was based on Carus Wilson.
In 1857, there was some controversy about the similarity between Lowood School and Cowan Bridge.
The school buildings are now private dwellings
This & associated entries use material contributed by Paul Hitchings
Page Ref: QQ_127
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