Anne Brontë and Geology: a Study of her Collection of Stones

Abstract

This research is focussed on Anne Brontë’s collection of stones, which are housed at the Brontë Parsonage Museum, and how they connect to her time in Scarborough. Obtained during the ‘golden age’ of geology, the collection was recently recharacterized using Raman spectroscopy. In this interdisciplinary study, we explore possible sources of the stones and the different factors that may have influenced Anne to obtain and maintain her collection of stones. The significance of Anne Brontë’s stones and her connections to mineralogy and geology reveal Anne’s interest, knowledge and abilities within these fields.