Top Withens, Haworth (Hansard, 23 July 1997)

§ Mrs. Ann Cryer (Keighley)

I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to speak briefly on a subject that has caused me some concern over the past two years. I also want to record my gratitude to my hon. Friend the Minister for replying to the debate: he must have many calls on his time in such a busy Department.

For the benefit of those less fortunate hon. Members who do not live in the West Riding, let me begin by explaining what and where Top Withens is. Top Withens, or what remains of it, is a much loved ruin—a sort of last outpost of human endeavour—standing in grand isolation on a vast windswept moor-top above the hamlet of Stanbury, which in turn stands above Haworth. All that is in my constituency.

Haworth contains the parsonage, now a museum, which is dedicated to the life and work of the Brontë sisters. Emily Brontë wrote her passionate, haunting book "Wuthering Heights" there, and a family friend, Ellen Nussey, subsequently explained that Emily had had Top Withens in mind when she described the position of Wuthering Heights with its "pure, bracing ventilation". Although there are differences in the architecture of the two buildings, Withens remains a point of pilgrimage for Brontë enthusiasts from around the world, and a focal point for walkers, as it stands yards from the Pennine way national trail.

In the early 1970s, we took many family walks to Top Withens, but, by the time my late husband was elected as Member of Parliament for Keighley in 1974, the remaining structure was beginning noticeably to disintegrate. One of his first campaigns, therefore, involved working for the listing of Top Withens and for its repair by the then Craven water authority. He was successful on both counts.

The old local authorities of the Pennine towns built many impressive reservoirs early in the century, partly to ensure a plentiful supply of water for the textile industry. They also bought up great tracts of moorland, which formed the catchment areas for their reservoirs. That is how, when the last Government gave away the family silver, Yorkshire Water plc came to be the owner of Withens and much of the magnificent moor on which it stands.

Two years ago, when I became Labour candidate for Keighley, I quickly discovered that all was not well with Top Withens. There were frequent letters in the local press, reports of meetings and correspondence between the Brontë Society and Yorkshire Water, all concerned about the disintegration of the ruin. A year ago, I wrote to my right hon. Friend the present Secretary of State for Health, who was, as always, helpful, and reported to me that Withens had been de-listed in 1992, on the recommendation of English Heritage to the Department of the Environment, on the ground that it was "too altered". Inquiries through Councillor Mike Young of the Worth Valley ward elicited similar information.

I do not know whether the words "too altered" referred to changes since Top Withens was a working farm at the turn of the century, or changes that have occurred since its listing in 1974. If it is the former, English Heritage should bear in mind, if it troubles to preserve the 929 magnificent ruins of Rievaulx abbey, the fact that it is very "altered" since the days when it was a complete and working abbey. Should it be the latter, is it just that English Heritage can recommend de-listing simply because the owner of a building, through neglect, has altered its appearance? Surely that runs counter to the reasons for listing buildings worthy of preservation.

I had two reasons for requesting this Adjournment debate. First, I want to encourage Yorkshire Water plc to carry out the repairs that it has been promising for at least two years. I was hopeful that the publicity engendered by the debate would result in a massive letter-writing campaign, which would encourage Yorkshire Water to set about that overdue work. I am pleased to report that, as a result of pre-debate publicity, Yorkshire Water has given its word that work will commence next month to spend £20,000, stabilising and reinforcing the existing structure to ensure it will remain a part of the local landscape for years to come, and be enjoyed by future generations of literary lovers". I hope to find time during the recess to walk up to the site and check that the company has kept its word. It would be helpful if my hon. Friend could join me. I assure him that the view is well worth the vigorous walk.

My second reason for instigating the debate is to call for the re-listing of Top Withens, and I appeal for my hon. Friend's support. Despite the much appreciated assurance from Yorkshire Water, it has taken the company at least two years to reach this position. Although its present conservation and recreation officer may genuinely care for Top Withens, that may not be so in the future. In common with many other people, my memory goes back to two long, hot, dry summers of carrying buckets of water from baths to gardens, while Yorkshire Water decided, on grounds of financial expediency, to allow leaks to leak.

There have been some changes. However, only two weeks ago, Yorkshire Water directors awarded themselves bonuses of up to 40 per cent, of earnings, based not on customer or environmental care but on financial performance. With those thoughts uppermost in my mind, I believe that, although listing would not be waving a magic wand of eternal care, it would reassure me, the Brontë Society and thousands of others who have great affection for this ruin that my hon. Friend's Department is on our side and cares about the future of Top Withens.

As an unreconstructed relic of old Labour, I still feel that the only way to achieve effective regulation of this most basic of utilities is to have an element of public ownership and accountability. As that is not to be, listing is my best hope.

I pay tribute to the Brontë Society, which, largely through its unpaid members, does such excellent work to preserve the memory of those fine women, Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë, who have given such pleasure to so many for a century and a half.

Bradford council's countryside service is also worthy of mention, as it takes care of the Pennine way in that area, thus enabling walkers to visit Withens. That service built the small bothy that afforded shelter to walkers, when, as so often, conditions were harsh. The countryside service will apparently retain the bothy once Yorkshire Water has repaired the main structure.

I should like to give Emily Brontë the last word. Although this paragraph from her first chapter of "Wuthering Heights" is not the killer quote or punchline 930 that establishes Withens for all time as the inspiration for that book, for me it describes superbly the position of this memorial to a great author. Wuthering Heights is the name of Mr. Heathcliff"s dwelling. 'Wuthering' being a significant provincial adjective, descriptive of the atmospheric tumult to which its station is exposed in stormy weather. Pure, bracing ventilation they must have up there at all times, indeed; one may guess the power of the north wind blowing over the edge, by the excessive slant of a few stunted firs at the end of the house; and by a range of gaunt thorns all stretching their limbs one way, as if craving alms of the sun.

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr. Tony Banks)

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mrs. Cryer) on her first Adjournment debate. She did extremely well. Many of us remember Bob Cryer campaigning on a number of constituency issues, most memorable of which was the Carlisle-Settle railway. Knowing the stable from which my hon. Friend comes, I am sure that she will be a doughty champion for Top Withens. However, I disagree with her description of herself as a relic of old Labour. She may like to join us old Labour people: we describe ourselves as vintage Labour, which is slightly more in keeping with how we feel at the moment.

I am usually associated with my role as Sports Minister. It is strange that my duties include the listing of buildings. In local government terms, that would be like being the chairman of tramways and fine arts. It is a strange but enjoyable combination of responsibilities. It is enjoyable because it involves a great deal of subjectivity, and it gives me the opportunity to take decisions. I thought that that would be one of the joys of being a Minister, but it is difficult to take decisions, even when one wants to, given that I have to go as a supplicant to the tables of the people on the sports side and entreat them to see my point of view. But in this area one can take decisions, so I thoroughly enjoy this duty.

I thank my hon. Friend for bringing Top Withens to my attention. I will be honest and admit that I had no knowledge of Top Withens until she described it. We listened to her advocacy of the site. I have only been able to get hold of a photocopy of a poor picture from "The Brontë Experience", which was sent to us by Keighley council. It does not do justice to the site. Indeed, the main part of its front page is a picture of Sir Clifford Richard talking Heathcliff. He is a national institution if ever there was one. I am sure that Sir Clifford will qualify for listed status fairly shortly.

I have not had the opportunity to look at the site. I understand that Top Withens is thought to date from the 17th century. As my hon. Friend said, it was once a small farmhouse with an attached barn. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and English Heritage say that it is now little more than a ruin. No one has claimed that the building has any great architectural merit, but it was listed on 24 October 1974 because of its association with the Brontës. The list description stated that it is thought to be one of the buildings in which in part Emily Brontë based "Wuthering Heights". However, the Department says that it has seen no hard evidence to support that claim, and that it was a mistake to have listed it in the first place.

931 That mistake was welcomed in the area, certainly by the Brontë Society. In considering whether the site should be re-listed, we shall have to examine further evidence. The Brontë Society must position it more accurately in the great saga of "Wuthering Heights".

We have a statutory obligation to consult English Heritage, whose opinions and views must be considered by Ministers before a decision is made. It says that we have to look at the architectural merits of a site and its historical interest. However, historical interest or association is by no means the same as literary association. There seems to be a lack of romanticism in English Heritage. I am not being disrespectful, but it gives me an essentially bureaucratic view. There are times when a literary association becomes an historical association; considerable subjectivity is involved.

Rievaulx abbey and the question whether there have been alterations is not a relevant comparison. English Heritage advises me that we are talking about something that is a ruin through neglect, rather than through alteration. My hon. Friend tells me that it is in a beautiful part of the country. Although it is off the beaten track, many people walk past it. I suspect that a number of them take pieces of it as souvenirs. That is regrettable. I understand that people feel that it is some sort of romantic link with the Brontës and "Wuthering Heights", but it is nevertheless a form of vandalism and we must prevent it. I was delighted to hear my hon. Friend say that she had convinced Yorkshire Water to take its responsibility seriously in trying to protect the site.

932 I understand the concern in the area to protect Top Withens. I know that my hon. Friend feels strongly—as her late husband did—about Top Withens. She is not the only hon. Member from the general locality who has made representations to me about Top Withens. However, even though I said that this is an area where decisions can be made, and that I actually like making decisions, I cannot announce from this Dispatch Box that Top Withens will be re-listed. I will ask English Heritage to make a further assessment of Top Withens to see whether it can be re-listed and the mistake repeated—only this time it will be not a mistake, but a positive act by English Heritage and my Department.

I will take up my hon. Friend's kind invitation to come to see the site. There is good reason for doing so. It will be a walk in the country. She described it as a vigorous walk, but I am not a vigorous walker. If she wants a vigorous walker, I suggest that she extends an invitation to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. I am more of an ambler. I should be more than happy to amble with her through the beautiful countryside and look at Top Withens. My hon. Friend has made a good case, and I want to see what she has described for myself before taking any further decisions.

I extend to my hon. Friend some considerable hope for the future of Top Withens. I congratulate her on raising the subject in the House, and thereby demonstrating the power of a Back Bencher to persuade Ministers.