Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë lived decades apart and imagined very different heroines — yet for much or all of their lives, both were unmarried daughters and sisters, deeply embedded in the domestic worlds that helped shape their creativity. From sewing shirts for their brothers to stitching quilts with their sisters, they balanced creative ambition with the daily demands of sewing, caregiving, and domestic responsibility.

This fascinating talk by Eleanor Houghton explores how making, sewing, gifting, budgeting and writing sustained their families and supported their art. Drawing on letters, novels, and surviving garments, accessories and made objects, it reflects on how dress, feminine accomplishment, domestic labour, and familial duty helped shape two of the most enduring literary voices in English literature.

We are delighted to be partnering with the Brontë Parsonage Museum to produce this very special event!

Eleanor Houghton is a dress historian, writer and illustrator whose work explores clothing as a form of biography — a material record of lives shaped and remembered through dress. She examines all aspects of historical clothing, from construction and wear to symbolism and social meaning. Her artworks, inspired by the quilt on display at Jane Austen’s House, are part of the museum’s long-term exhibition. Her forthcoming book, Charlotte Brontë’s Life Through Clothes (Bloomsbury, February 2026), offers a richly detailed portrait of Brontë through the garments she wore, made, and imagined. Eleanor also works as a historical consultant for film and television, with credits including Frances O’Connor’s Emily and BBC’s Gentleman Jack, and continues to advise on upcoming period productions.

Details:
Date: Monday 26 January 2026
Time: 8pm – 9pm GMT
Location: This event will take place online. Join us from the comfort of your own home!
Tickets: £7
This event is also available as part our Virtual Festival Pass – if you want to attend all the events on this day, this is the best option!

This event take place on Zoom. Please provide a valid email address, as you will be emailed a link to join in the run up to each event. 

 If you are joining as a group or household, please buy one ticket for each person attending.  All proceeds go towards the upkeep of the Museum. 

 This event will be recorded so you can watch again later. All ticket-holders will be emailed a link to the recording after the event. The recording will be accessible for one month.

Timings are given in UK time (GMT) – please do check what the event time is in your territory, to ensure you log in at the right time.

💐 This event is part of our Pride and Prejudice Festival, 24-28 January 2026