November's Autumn

Anne must have been apprehensive that October day in 1835 when she arrived at Roe Head School. Described as rambling, roomy, and solid, it was her first time away from home and its surroundings very different.

There were never more than twelve pupils throughout the two years Anne studied there and the building must at times have felt very solitary.

It became rumored by the students, that if you stood at the foot of the stairs leading to the third floor, which wasn't used (perhaps to economize) you could hear the rustling silk gown of a ghostly lady.

Margaret Wooler, headmistress of Roe Head School

The headmistress, Margaret Wooler, was said to have a talent for instilling a love of learning in her pupils but it should also be noted that in her journals, Charlotte writes of the 'very unwilling pupils.' Regardless, where Emily had felt stifled, Anne persevered and adapted, she was even presented a medal for good conduct.

Charlotte was good friends with Miss Wooler, but it seems they differed during Anne's study there.This is pure speculation on my part: based on how Charlotte later reacts to Anne's writing, I think she underestimated her and that Miss Wooler saw Anne's aptitude. But they remained friends and she was one of the few attendants later at Charlotte's wedding.

The two sisters seem to have lead rather seperate lives at Roe Head and Anne made no close friends.  During one of their Holidays, they were both been invited to the home of Anne's godmother, Mrs. Frank, and her Reverend husband James, less than five miles off in Huddersfield. It was a disappointment not to be able to go home to dear Haworth but Mrs. Frank was very kind.

Huddersfield Parish Church after its reconstruction encouraged by Rev. Frank

Amelia Walker of Lascelles Hall whom Charlotte studied with also lived in the area and invited the sisters to visit, it was Anne's first experience of the privileged class and here she was not in the shadow society placed on a governess.

The town had new Calvanist and Methodist churches in the area, outshining the Parish church with its crumbling roof. The Rev. Frank set in motion a complete re-construction of the church and when the Bronte's arrived work was underway.

Upon their return to Roe Head Anne began suffering from Religious turmoil. It's possible she may have heard some of the Calvanist doctrines during her stay in Huddersfield which perturbed her, so different were they from her Anglican upbringing; the idea that salvation is only for an elect few and the un-elected are shown no mercy.

James La Trobe when he later became a Bishop

It was a Morovian Minister,  James La Trobe, who helped Anne through this crisis. Reminding her of God's love for fallen humanity and of Salvation. He found her well read in the Bible and they conversed as equals despite the sixteen year age gap.

Anne had been experiencing difficulty breathing and by late 1837 her health was deteriorating. Concerned, Charlotte wrote to her father about Anne's decline and during the December holiday they traveled home.

Patrick decided to withdraw his daughter from the school and she spent the next year recovering.


Sources:

"Anne Brontë - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2011. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Bront%C3%AB.

"Calvinism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2011.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism

Chitham, Edward. A life of Anne Brontë. Oxford, UK: B. Blackwell, 1991. Print.

Florence, and Marie .. "Margaret Wooler : Les Brontë à Paris." Les Brontë à Paris. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Nov. 2011. http://brontefrance.hautetfort.com/archive/2010/06/17/margaret-wooler.html.

Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn. The life of Charlotte Brontë. Champaign, Ill.: Project Gutenberg, 199. Print.

Michael, Armitage. "At Roe Head and Blake Hall." Commence Countdown.... N.p., 26 June 1999. Web. 8 Nov. 2011. http://mick-armitage.staff.shef.ac.uk/anne/cast-2.html. *scans of Anne Bronte's artwork

"Yorkshire." The Sikes/Sykes Families Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2011. http://sikes-sykesfamilies.rootsweb.com/yorkphotos.htm. *scan of Huddersfield Church