A tiny English village known for its historic literary links decided to twin itself with one of the world’s most spectacular ancient places. It sounds unlikely, but that’s exactly what happened when Haworth linked up with Machu Picchu.
Two women began the journey from a Fairtrade shop in West Yorkshire where they hatched a plan that would connect their cobblestoned home town (famous as the Brontë sisters’ Haworth Parsonage and location of the Railway Children film) with a 15th-century Incan citadel perched high in the Peruvian mountains.
Pauline Brown and Rita Verity’s adventure began with an impromptu invitation. Within weeks, they found themselves bouncing through Peru in a confiscated drug cartel vehicle driven by the local mayor. Not your typical diplomatic start, but memorable nonetheless.
Despite seeming worlds apart, these two locations share surprising similarities. Both boast textile traditions, misty mountainous terrain, and beloved historic railways. They even share a passion for ‘proper’ tourism—though you’ll have better luck finding a pint of locally-brewed ale in Yorkshire than at the “lost city of the Incas.”
The twinning journey took persistence. After meeting Peruvian officials, visiting schools and orphanages, and even addressing parliament (where they of course mentioned Haworth’s alpacas), it still took four years for all the paperwork to be signed off, making the unlikely partnership official.
Since then, the connection has blossomed into something genuinely meaningful. Haworth’s opticians have provided eye care in Peru. Local schools exchange letters. Fundraising efforts support Peruvian communities affected by flooding. The village even sells special Machu Picchu coffee and handmade bracelets from Peruvian children’s charities.
For their tenth anniversary celebrations, they wanted to recruit the services of a Peruvian chef.
Ms Verity recalls:
“When we had the celebration in 2019, we wanted the food to be Peruvian and then Yorkshire puddings. I couldn’t find a Peruvian chef, so I asked at the embassy and within about half an hour I got a phone call from Martin Morales who had Peruvian restaurants in London. He was absolutely amazing, really wonderful.”
The chef said he ‘would love to help’, and also brought his aunt, who coincidentally lived in the West Yorkshire town of Brighouse.
Now, as the partnership’s October anniversary approaches, they’re enlisting another Peruvian icon to help engage youngsters: Paddington Bear. Celebrations include film screenings, picnics (marmalade sandwiches encouraged), and quiz trails through town.
The real goal? Passing the torch to Haworth’s youth so this quirky international friendship continues for decades to come. After all, it’s not every day a small English village can claim kinship with one of the world’s greatest wonders.
Want to know more about Macchu Picchu? Visit the Paddington Quiz on the Haworth twinning site. (Answers here.)