Experts have been called in to help recreate the interior decoration at one of the most famous literary homes in the country.

They are examining minute samples of paint and scrutinising small pieces of wallpaper in an effort to uncover what the inside of the Bronte Parsonage looked like when it was occupied by the famous sisters Charlotte, Emily and Anne.

The work is being carried out this month while the Bronte Parsonage Museum at Haworth is closed to the public.

The aim is to gather enough evidence to recreate the interior of the building in the early 19th century when the house was occupied by the family.

Andrew McCarthy, the museum’s director, said when the investigation was completed it was hoped to attract funding and to start the redecoration in the closed period next year.

“It’s a very exciting project,” he said. “We’re looking forward to discovering what the house looked like during that time. Who knows what the investigation might throw up?

“We already have a book which was owned by Charlotte and covered by wallpaper. We will be attempting to find out if that was a left-over piece used in the house at the time. It might be possible to match that with a paper design of the period.

“We have some other examples, including some paper used in a writing desk owned by the family.”

The papers could be reproduced as they would originally have been, using wooden blocks or by a modern digital process.

The paints would have to be more robust than the original distemper type in order to cope with the 75,000 people who visit the museum every year.

Called in to help has been Allyson McDermott, a specialist in recreating period schemes, especially in reproducing historic wallpapers and paints, and Crick Smith, consultants with expertise in analysing paints.