Action is being taken to protect a listed building, where the Brontë sisters and their brother taught, as campaigners prepare a bid to restore the famous structure.

Keighley Area Committee has stepped in to help finance a new boiler at the Old Schoolroom, in Haworth.

The boiler is being fitted to protect it over the winter — the old boiler is irreparable — as guardians of the building prepare to raise up to £250,000 towards the £1 million restoration project.

They are now preparing bids to meet the balance of the cost to construct a new roof, fit windows, install new toilets and a kitchen and re-configure the inside to make it more suitable for cultural and community use.

Helping spearhead the project is John Collinson and Averil Kenyon, of Haworth-based Brontë Spirit which has taken on the project.

The building, constructed by the Rev Patrick Brontë — father of the famous sister novelists, Emily, Anne and Charlotte — in 1832, is owned by Haworth’s parish church.

His three daughters and their brother Branwell taught at the school, which catered especially for the poor of the parish.

Mr Collinson said the project was expected to be completed within about two years.

They were trying to keep the building as original as possible and planned to possibly reinstate the bell tower, which Patrick Brontë would have known.

The schoolroom was constructed in three phases — the original in 1832 and the others in 1850 and 1870.

Mrs Kenyon said: “The schoolroom is one of the most important historical buildings in the area and must be conserved for the future.

“It’s a tribute to Patrick Brontë’s work in the village which was impressive. He built this school to educate the poor and he was involved in improving the water supply as well.”

It was open throughout August with an exhibition of photographs of old Haworth and attracted about 2,700 people.

Keighley councillor Glen Miller, chairman of Keighley Area Committee, said: “All three ward members agreed to help fund the boiler because this is a self-help group and needs support.”

The schoolroom was opened in the summer of 1832, 12 years after the Rev Patrick Brontë arrived with his family in Haworth.

It was financed partly by an £80 grant from the National Society and was used on Sundays only.

It became a weekday school in 1843 when he secured another grant for a salaried teacher and it closed as a school in 1903.