Engagements | Donna Lowson

Victorian Hair Work Demonstrations
at the Brontë Parsonage Museum.

Saturday 1 August 2026

Morning Session: 11:00am–1:00pm
Afternoon Session: 2:00pm–4:00pm

This summer, come and see Charlotte Brontë's hair bracelet on display at the Brontë Parsonage Museum.

Just next door to Charlotte's bedroom, in the former servants' room, artist and hair work researcher Donna Lowson will be demonstrating the Victorian techniques used to create hair jewellery, such as Charlotte's bracelet.

Hair work was once a highly skilled and deeply personal craft, woven through stories of memory, affection, mourning, identity and connection. Today, these intricate objects can seem mysterious or even unsettling, yet they reveal much about the lives and relationships of the people who made and wore them.

Drop in, watch traditional techniques being demonstrated, examine historical processes, and ask questions about the fascinating world of Victorian hair work.

Together, let's unpick the histories, skills and stories entwined within a single strand of hair.

Free with museum admission.