The writing is literally on the wall at the Bront Parsonage Museum.

But hidden scribblings unearthed at the former Bront home in Haworth were made a century after the literary sisters - of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights fame - died.

For builders who refurbished the tourist attraction in 1959 are believed to be responsible for the graffiti, which includes a picture of a teddy boy.

Now Parsonage bosses hope to invite the people responsible, or their relatives, to the museum's annual VIP open day.

The jottings were discovered on plasterwork when oak panels were removed during recent improvements.

The names and addresses of George Johnson and Arthur Lamb, both of Woodlands Rise, Haworth, were written alongside the date March 13, 1959.

A cartoon of a teddy boy was accompanied by the news that beer cost one shilling and sixpence a pint and cigarettes cost just over a shilling.

Museum director Mike Hill believes one of the men, George Johnson, died about ten years ago. But the younger man, Arthur, who was 18 in 1959, could still live locally and is being urged to get in touch.

Mr Hill said: "I'd be very interested in finding out what it was like working in the parsonage in those days."

He said the graffiti was found in the Bonnell Room, which stands next to the museum shop and is used for temporary exhibitions.

The room is part of an extension built in the 1870s but was extensively renovated when the shop building was constructed in 1959.

The Bront Parsonage Museum reopens this weekend after its winter break and a new exhibition, A Passionate Response, will open the following weekend.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Arthur or George's family is asked to call Clive White on (01535) 606611.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.