Community leaders in Haworth have expressed their disappointment after the village was snubbed in its bid to become a World Heritage Site.

Haworth, the second most visited literary shrine in the country after Stratford-Upon-Avon, has failed to make it into the final 11 nominations.

It means the village, home of the famous Bronte sisters who wrote their classic novels in the Parsonage, will not be joining Saltaire, which was made a World Heritage Site in 2001.

Bronte country was among 38 potential sites which were being considered by experts from UNESCO.

Haworth Parish Council chairman, Councillor John Huxley said: “It is disappointing. Clearly we think Haworth had a good case. We won’t give up.

“World Heritage status would have helped gain more recognition worldwide and perhaps attracted more funding to help maintain the area.

“We have been working with Bradford Council conservation officers to improve the village. The setts are being renovated and conservation officers are giving advice about how to maintain the heritage of the village. There is lots of work going on.”

Bronte Parsonage Museum director Andrew McCarthy said: “It is disappointing but we have to accept there is a lot of stiff competition from some amazing locations.

“But Haworth and its environment is a unique place and of national and international interest.”

Councillor Anne Hawkes-worth, heritage champion for Bradford Council, said: “Obviously we are disappointed Haworth did not make the shortlist but there is always very tough competition and criteria to meet.

“It is essential we continue to support Haworth, as it is such an important and desirable tourist destination due to the Bronte connection and its beautiful setting.”

The full shortlist

The Forth Rail Bridge, Scotland.

Chatham Dockyard and its Defences, Kent.

Creswell Crags, Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire.

England’s Lake District, Cumbria.

Gorham’s Cave Complex, Gibraltar.

The Island of St Helena, South Atlantic Ocean.

Jodrell Bank Observatory, Cheshire.

Mousa, Old Scatness & Jarlshof, Shetland, Scotland.

Slate Industry of North Wales.

The Flow Country, Scotland.

Turks & Caicos Islands, West Indies.

*Two sites that are being considered by Unesco already will also join the Tentative List. They are:

Twin Monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow, Sunderland, South Tyneside, and Darwin’s Landscape Laboratory, Kent.

  • Read the full story in Wednesday's T&A