A memorial to the Brontë sisters in Westminster Abbey has been amended 85 years after it was first installed.
The amendment involves the addition of diaereses above the letter ‘e’ in the authors’ surname, ensuring correct pronunciation.
The omission was discovered by Sharon Wright, a historian and editor of the Brontë Society Gazette.
Wright noticed the missing diaereses during a research trip to Poets’ Corner and reported it to Dr David Hoyle, the Dean of Westminster.
Dr Hoyle responded by instructing the abbey’s stonemason to add the diaereses and its conservator to paint them.
This correction ensures that the names of the Brontë sisters are now spelled correctly, with the proper punctuation.
The memorial was originally installed in 1939 as a tribute to Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë, who were among the notable literary figures commemorated in Poets’ Corner.
It serves to honour their legacy and contributions to literature.
The diaereses are two dots placed over the letter ‘e’ to indicate the correct pronunciation of ‘Brontë’ as ‘Bron-tay’ instead of ‘Bront’.
The Brontë name evolved from their father Patrick’s Irish surname of Prunty or Brunty when he entered St John’s College, Cambridge, in 1802.
A 1939 letter from Donald Hopewell, president of the Brontë Society, gave clear instructions for the inclusion of the diaereses on the memorial.
Despite the clear instructions, the diaereses were not incorporated when the memorial was first installed. Historian Sharon Wright raised awareness about this issue only recently.
The oversight was acknowledged and rectified promptly by the Westminster Abbey authorities.
Rebecca Yorke, director of the Brontë Society, expressed immense joy at the correction, stating that the accurate spelling honours the Brontës’ global legacy.
Wright also shared her pride in ensuring the immortal name of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne is now complete in Poets’ Corner.
Dr Hoyle reflected on the importance of memory and active remembrance, thanking the Brontë Society for their vigilance.
The addition of the diaereses marks a meaningful chapter in the lasting story of the Brontë sisters.
The amendment to the Brontë sisters’ memorial ensures their names are now accurately represented in Westminster Abbey.
This correction honours their literary contributions and the historical accuracy of their legacy.
