Bestselling Yorkshire writer Charlotte Bronte's profession is listed as 'wife' on her death certificate

Yet Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte's death certificates make no mention of their literary professions - instead labelling their official positions as 'wife', 'spinster' and 'daughter'.

Haworth house owned by friends of the Bronte sisters goes on the market

While the entering of women in official records according to their male relatives' standing in society was common in the 19th century, it throws contemporary attitudes to the Yorkshire sisters' achievements into sharp focus.

The inequality was highlighted on International Women's Day by the Bronte Parsonage Museum in Keighley, who Tweeted a photo of Jane Eyre author Charlotte's death certificate from 1855, which lists her profession as 'wife of curate', in reference to her husband Abraham Bell Nicholls.

Unmarried Anne was recorded as a 'spinster' when she died aged 29 after suffering from consumption. Emily, who also had tuberculosis, died at 30. As she was also unmarried, she was listed as 'daughter of Patrick Bronte'.

Ponden Hall near Haworth, a country house which is set to have inspired Emily's novel Wuthering Heights and was visited by all three sisters, went on the market this month. See inside the house here.