Life in Haworth at the time of the Brontes is to be brought to life in a new exhibition – thanks to local people who went rummaging in their attics.

The result of the Bronteana appeal was a stack of treasures which have helped paint a new picture of the village and Parsonage where the three sisters, Charlotte, author of Jane Eyre, Emily, who wrote Wuthering Heights, and Anne, together with their brother, Branwell, lived in the 19th century.

Many of these items will go on show when the museum opens for the new season on February 4 after it closed at the end of January.

Among them are an 1834 Haworth rate book, a collection of Haworth church hymn sheets dating from the Bronte period and six books believed to have belonged to the Brontes which were given to their servant Martha Brown.

Also on show will be three bound volumes of the Family Economist which belonged to Martha’s sister, Tabitha, who also assisted with domestic work at the Parsonage.

Still under investigation to see if it has connections with the Parsonage is a jam pan believed to have been included in the sale which took place in Haworth after the death of the Rev Patrick Bronte, the Bronte children’s father, in 1861.

Ann Dinsdale, the Bronte Parsonage collections manager, said: “The items which came forward were a real surprise and helped us flesh out life in Haworth and the villagers’ connections with the Parsonage.

“A nice human interest story relates to the hymn sheets which advertises a sermon by the church curate at the time, William Weightman, who we know was a charming and handsome young man who enlivened the routine of the sisters in the Parsonage.

“He tragically died of cholera in 1842, aged just 26.

“The domestic volumes are fascinating because of the advice they give, such as how to make you own ink. It’s quite likely that some of that advice was used directly in the Bronte household.

“There are other items which we’re researching to confirm their connections with the family and they will be shown at another exhibition. We would like to thank everyone who got in touch and to reiterate that people are still welcome to contact the museum if they believe they have items which would interest us,” she added.