Interested in how the greats come up with their ideas? Why not take a look at their homes to start to understand?
Arguably one of the most famous and beloved writers in the world of English Literature, Jane Austen is well-beloved by scholars and popular readers alike. Lord Tennyson once wrote of her: ‘Miss Austen understood the smallness of life to perfection.’
Her novels, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion, are loved in all their forms, as films, as audiobooks, or in their true, original state, even these 200 years later.
So it is no wonder that her home, one a beautiful family property, is now one of the most treasured homes in England. And, luckily for anyone who wants to stroll the halls where Jane Austen once walked, you can even visit online!
The History of the House
Jane Austen’s house is based in Chawton, Hampshire, in the south of England. It was her home for the writing process of all of her completed and famous novels. The Hampshire cottage was where the wonderful author lived for the last eight years of her life.
It was here that her mind got the inspiration to write a handful of novels that really changed the world of English Literature as we know it. Within those walls today, visitors can discover Jane’s personal letters, first editions of her novels, items close to her heart, portraits of her friends and family, and perhaps most iconic, the little writing table where she penned her novels.
The house is around five hundred years old. It started its life as a thatched, timber dwelling that was originally used as a farmhouse and coaching inn. Then, in the mid-eighteenth century, the house was bought by the Knights, distant relatives of Jane Austen. The Knights eventually adopted Jane’s brother Edward as their heir after having none of their own children. He offered the property to his mother and sisters, and they moved there in 1809.
Jane lived at the property for the last eight years of her life before moving to Winchester for medical treatment in May 1817. She died two months later.
The House After Jane
Following Jane’s death, Mrs Austen continued to live at the property for the rest of her life. In 1845, the house was returned to the Chawton estate and divided into three dwellings for estate workers, an estate office, and a working men’s club.
In 1940, just under a century later, Dorothy Darnell founded the Jane Austen Society. The goal: save the house. The Society attracted the attention of a benefactor, Mr. TE Carpenter. He bought the house and endowed it to the nation in memorial of his son. He went on to set up the Jane Austen Memorial Trust, designed to run the house as a museum. It was formally opened on 23rd July 1949 by the Duke of Wellington.
Since then, many parts of the house have been restored and the interior has been purposefully restyled to take it back to how it would have looked when the Austens resided there. It is now a Grade I listed building, an accredited museum and one of the most loved literary sites in the world.
The Virtual Tour
On the website of the Jane Austen House, there is a virtual tour of the property. This allows people far and wide to explore the property for themselves.
The tour features illustrations of characters from Jane’s time by James Robinson, as well as audio narration by Olivia Mace, Rachel Winters, Amanda Bright, and Sophie Reynolds. It starts on the street outside the property, where you can click to engage with information on the Dedication Plaque and Memorial Plaque. From there you can go through to the back of the property where there is information about the garden, taking quotes from Jane Austen’s memoir.
You’ll also see Gothic Arched Windows, which has information about their architecture. At the back of the house, there are two white doors, both of which you can explore. One will take you through to the kitchen, the other to the drawing room. From the latter, you can walk through the home, exploring each room. The dining parlor, reading room, family room, dressing room, admiral’s room, and much more are all available to explore on the tour.
Other Places of Note for Jane Austen Fans
If you get the chance to visit the UK and wish to explore Jane Austen’s sites of interest, there are a few other places to add to your list. First of all, not far from the house in Hampshire, is the village of Steventon, where she was born.
Bath should also be on the list. The historic site is where Jane Austen moved in 1801. She spent five years there, and many of the characters in her novels were the type that would’ve visited fashionable spa towns like Bath in their free time.
The Peak District, Derbyshire, happens to be another top location. Home to the fictional Mr Darcy’s house, it is a great place to visit simply for its natural beauty, but it has also been home to a great many film crews for Jane Austen adaptations.
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Migz
Millie Ramm
Millie has been writing since she was a child, and has spent more time with her nose in books than anywhere else. She has been ghostwriting novels and editing for the past few years, and when not working she is curled up with her cats, looking for her next read.
