The team at Scotney Castle is marking the arrival of autumn with a specially themed house tour, illustrating how light affects and fades colourful objects, such as fragile wallpapers.

The new tour, running until Tuesday, September 30, uses printed sample books showing images of the house’s bright wallpaper as it would have appeared in its heyday.

Visitors can then try to match the original colours of the samples to the upstairs rooms now that light, flooding in from huge windows, has faded many of the original hues and patterns of the intricate wallpapers and fabrics. The castle’s Laura Edwards said: “Sadly the golden wallpaper on the stairs is beyond repair, but we have already commissioned a specialist company to exactly replicate its design so that we can restore the original glow.”

The castle grounds, near Cranbrook, are open from 10am to 5pm daily. Entry costs £13 for adults, £6.50 for children or £32.50 for families of four. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/scotney-castle