CUS0127-6763 leaflet new:Layout 1 15/09/2009 13:42 Page 1

Steventon and beyond: education and early influences Family ties In 1817, suffering from a kidney Jane Austen was George Austen, known as ‘the handsome The girls’ brief schooling was finally ‘Give a girl an disorder, Jane Austen came to Jane’s father, George Austen, (1731-1805), born on 16 proctor’ at Balliol College, was a reflective, curtailed due to constraints upon the education and Winchester to be close to her physician. was the rector of St Nicholas Church in the December 1775 at literary man, who took pride in his children's family’s finances. Jane returned to the introduce her properly education. rectory in 1787 to begin writing a Jane only lived a few weeks in the house AUSTEN parish of Steventon. Reverend Austen took in Steventon Rectory into the world, and collection of poems, plays and short in College Street but continued to write, boys to tutor. in north , Most unusually for the period, he owned more ten to one but she stories which she dedicated to friends and pencilling the short poem Winchester at where her parents than 500 books and was forward thinking in has the means of His wife Cassandra (née Leigh) family. This, her Juvenilia, encompassed encouraging his daughters to read widely. settling well.’ the Races to honour St Swithun. (1739-1827) was a sociable, witty woman whom had moved a year her early writings. previously with Again unusually, when Jane’s only sister, She died - only 41 years old - on 18 July 1817 and was laid George had met while studying in Oxford. A History of , perhaps the most three of Jane’s older Cassandra, left for school in 1782, she was Jane Austen to rest in the ‘long old solemnly grey and lovely shape Cassandra was visiting her uncle, Theophilus celebrated of these early works, can be siblings. Henry was accompanied by Jane, aged just seven. Their of the cathedral’. As a woman, the heartbroken Leigh, Master of Balliol College. When Cassandra viewed online at the British Library mother wrote of their bond, ‘If Cassandra’s left the city, George followed her to Bath and born before Jane, website (www.bl.uk/onlinegallery). Cassandra was not able to attend the funeral, despite then a further three head had been going to be cut off, Jane losing a sister she described as ‘the sun of my life’. The house in College Street. © John Crook 2009 Even in this, one of Austen’s earliest Jane Austen’s ledger stone © John Crook 2009 continued to court her until they got married on would have hers cut off too’. children arrived, texts, the reader glimpses the wit 26 April 1764, at the church of St Swithin in Bath. The original memorial stone over Jane’s tomb (see Today, the City Museum in Winchester displays a small collection of meaning that the The two sisters attended schools in Oxford, that was to come. The prose is above right) makes no reference to her literary Although a close knit family, by today’s standards the household Austen brood and Reading. In Southampton peppered with phrases illustrating Austen memorabilia, including a handwritten poem entitled, I’ve a pain achievements, so a brass plaque was added in was subject to somewhat fluid arrangements regarding the care of numbered eight the girls (and their cousin Jane Cooper) left the her flair for detached, literary in my head (see cover), written around 1811. offspring. As was customary for the gentry at the time, Jane’s school when they caught a fever brought to anticlimax: 1872 to redress this. In 1900 a stained glass in all. The College Street residence is now a private house but Winchester’s parents sent her as an infant to be cared for by a farming the city by troops returning from abroad. Their ‘Lord Cobham was burnt alive, memorial window, funded by public tourist guides link all the Austen landmarks in the city together in their neighbour, Elizabeth Littlewood. cousin’s mother died and Jane also contracted but I forget what for.’ subscription, was erected in her the illness, becoming very unwell but, memory. The library in the cathedral fascinating tour, and informative cathedral tours are also available. Her brother George, who is thought to have luckily for literary posterity, survived. occasionally showcases a silhouette of Winchester’s final connection to Jane Austen’s legacy is a more modern suffered from epilepsy, also lived away from Jane Austen (above) with the one. Colin Firth (see above left), whose portrayal of Mr Darcy in the the family home. And the third child, Edward unauthenticated inscription, ‘Jane 1995 BBC adaptation of brought him widespread (shown left), was adopted by his father’s Austin [sic] by herself’. attention, went to school here. His performance in the role was given third cousin, Mr Thomas Knight, eventually further renown when he took on the role of Mark Darcy in the 2001 inheriting Godmersham and Chawton Miramax film adaptation of Bridget Jones’ Diary. The film touches on House - close to the house in Chawton to Austen’s famous novel with plot and characterisation - meaning that ‘Jane lies in Winchester – blessed be her shade! which Jane and Cassandra moved Winchester: what to see Firth’s casting lent an ironic, modern twist on the persona of the Praise the Lord for making her, and her for all she made!’ with their mother. Winchester’s official tourist guides provide walking tours Austen anti-hero who came good. Another box Rudyard Kipling Arrangements like these were of Jane Austen’s Winchester and cathedral tours are also office success came with Joe Wright’s 2005 available. Visit www.winchestertouristguides.com or normal for the time the family adaptation of Pride and Prejudice starring Steventon: what to see. www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk for more information. As the film and television industry continues to delight us was close and affectionate and Entry into the City Museum is free, it opens April to Keira Knightly (see left and overleaf). with exquisitely shot Jane Austen adaptations, the question recurring themes of family Other than a towering lime tree, offspring of one planted by October: Mon - Sat 10am to 5pm, Sun 12pm to 5pm. The regional première of of who the woman behind the novels actually was becomes bonds and respectable rural Jane’s brother James, and a clump of nettles that marks the November to March: Tue - Sat 10am to 4pm, Sun 12pm this film was spot where the family well used to stand, nothing remains at to 4pm, tel. 01962 863 064. living would play a strong screened in ever more intriguing. contact with the infamous Boltons of the site of the rectory other than the rural tranquillity that was part in Jane’s writing. To speak to someone about any of the above call Hackwood Park. (Jane dryly perhaps as central an element of Austen’s creativity as the Winchester. Maybe that’s why each year thousands of visitors continue Winchester Tourist Information Centre, on comments after meeting the society of her day. ) 01962 840 500. Further information about visiting to flock to the landmarks of her life in Winchester and Coming from a respectable illegitimate daughter of Lord Bolton At St Nicholas Church there is a bronze plaque dedicated to the Winchester including accommodation listings and family associated with the church, in the Bath assembly rooms that she writer and you can see her elder brother’s grave, along with Hampshire’s surrounding countryside to get closer to the ‘much improved with a wig’. where to eat is at www.visitwinchester.co.uk Jane and her sister Cassandra was those of other relatives. ‘real’ Jane Austen. were part of the social class known She also visited the Hansons of Please note: The College Street residence is now Winchester City Council’s tourism service would like to thank the following individuals and The 1000-year old yew, which used to house the key in the as gentry. Farleigh House and the Dorchesters of a private house. organisations for their help in producing this leaflet: Elizabeth Proudman, official Winchester Kempshott Park where Jane attended time of the Austens, still yields berries - its secret, central tourist guide and Chair of the Jane Austen Society for her knowlege and input; Joe Low, Find out why visiting the area is leaving so many Austen The well-spoken girls enjoyed a busy a New Year’s ball in 1800. hollow intact. Further details about St Nicholas Church can be photographer, for the images taken at Jane Austen’s House, Chawton; Madelaine Smith and readers with a lasting sense of history, place and person... round of dances and house visits, obtained from the present rector by emailing him at Louise West at Jane Austen’s House, Chawton for their guidance and the images of her family The Austen family: what to see mingling with the higher echelons of Jane Austen’s keen observation of [email protected] featured in the Family ties section of this leaflet; Dr John Crook for the image of the original local Georgian society in the great the manners and morals of her draft of I’ve a pain in my head on the front cover, and of Jane Austen’s ledger stone, the house The most extensive collection of memorabilia houses dotted throughout the rolling extended social network was to give The Wheatsheaf Inn in North Waltham, where Jane used to If you would like this leaflet in a in College Street and the unauthenticated silhouette featured in the Winchester section of this relating to the Austen family is showcased at Jane green countryside. rise to her famous plotlines walk to collect the post, serves food to passers by and featureslarger format please contact the leaflet; Revd. Michael Kenning, rector of Steventon Church for his help and advice throughout Sense open fires and cosy seating, tel: 01256 398 282 Austen’s House, Chawton, now sensitively revolving around unsuitable suitors, tourist information centre on all stages of this project; Phil Howe at Hidden Britain Tours for his invaluable advice at the As well as spending time with the and social position - she started Post Code: RG25 2BB. outset of the project; www.mollands.net for their kind permission to use featured illustrations refurbished. See overleaf to find out more... Pride and PrejudiceNorthanger family friend Madam Lefroy, who drafting and 01962 840 500 or e-mail from their online Austen archive; BBC Photo Library and Universal Pictures for their co-operation www.winchesteraustentrail.co.uk lived at Ashe Rectory, we know that and Sensibility [email protected] regarding the use of stills from two adaptations of Pride and Prejudice. whilst living at the rectory. www.winchesteraustentrail.co.uk Jane and Cassandra came into Abbey © Winchester City Council July 2009 Ref No. CUS0127-6763 . CUS0127-6763 jane austen leaflet new:Layout 1 15/09/2009 13:47 Page 7

JANE AUSTEN'S 10 15 Travel information - Getting to Southampton St Nicholas Coastal jaunts HAMPSHIRE Ashe Rectory Church The map opposite traces Jane Austen’s Trains leave Winchester every 15 4 2 minutes and take between 15 STEVENTON life in Hampshire chronologically but It was whilst Jane was visiting her and 25 minutes to reach 5 you can plan the itinerary that 7 brothers Charles and Frank, both Southampton Central. Trains Hackwood 1 Kempshott serving officers in the Royal Navy in best suits you. You might like to tie Park Park depart from London Waterloo Steventon Rectory 3 Portsmouth, that she was influenced your visit in with our other mapped trails that every 25 minutes and take 6 The to write . In the novel overlap. Our cricket trail, for example, has link between 1hour 15 minutes and Wheatsheaf Farleigh House she portrays the old city convincingly, points at Alresford, Southampton and Winchester. 1hour 40 minutes. Inn ALTON touching on the squalor of its poverty. For more details call 01962 840 500 or see For directions by car, call The naval dockyard she describes in Mansfield Park is now a sports www.cricketingwinchester.co.uk. Tips for getting Southampton Tourist Information field in neighbouring Portsea but the city still features the Georgian to the various highlighted destinations on the map Centre, tel: 023 8083 3333 or visit CHAWTON architecture which marks its development as a suburb serving the www.southampton.gov.uk are shown below. naval personnel who guarded the once heavy coastal fortifications. 16 - 17 Getting to Chawton 16 17 Southampton © Joe Low 2009 Chawton Chawton, near Alton, lies 17 miles Jane Austen's House Jane, her mother and sister Cassandra moved to Southampton after Jane Austen’s House, 1 - 7 Getting to Steventon east of Winchester. 64 and X64 Library the death of her father in 1805. Jane found living in a city a challenge buses leave from stop J at after her country childhood. We know that the From 1809 until Remarkably, even now the approach to Although there were adequate To reach Steventon Rectory from Winchester, leave Winchester following Winchester Bus Station (opposite women spent much time out of doors, 1817 Jane lived in Chawton is not so changed by progress as to bedrooms for the sisters to have their signs to The Midlands, M3. Leave the M3 at Junction 7 and take the first WINCHESTER be unrecognisable from what it was in Jane own rooms, Jane and Cassandra chose the tourist information centre) and promenading along the city walls and taking Chawton village exit to the A30 (signposted ). At traffic lights turn left (A30) Austen’s day, with thatched cottages to share a room, as they had done at reach Chawton roundabout in 18 excursions to the River Itchen and the ruins of near Alton with her then turn right to North Waltham and follow signs to Steventon. mother, sister and remaining. The risk of flooding was a fact of Steventon. Jane rose early and practised 30 minutes, a ten minute walk Netley Abbey. Surviving correspondence also life in eighteenth century Hampshire too, as the piano and made breakfast. We their friend Martha HiddenHidden Britain Britain Tours runsTours a runs ‘Dancing a ‘Dancing Years’ Years’ to the centre of Chawton. 11 tells us that the three women travelled up the Jane bemoans in March 1816: ‘Our pond is know that she was personally in charge experienceexperience encompassing encompassing the the site site of of the the old old Lloyd. Restored to Travel by train from Winchester River Itchen Beaulieu River, passing Buckler’s Hard, an 18th brim full and our roads are dirty and our of the sugar, tea and wine stores. rectory,rectory, St St Nicholas Nicholas Church Church and and the the grand grand century shipbuilding village, and Beaulieu the rural Hampshire walls are damp, and we sit wishing every Station to Alton, changing at Basingstoke then From 2009, work has been underway to houseshouses Jane Jane and and Cassandra Cassandra Austen Austen visited visited Abbey. Jane also danced at the Dolphin Hotel. she loved, Jane bad day may be the last.’ Hook - a 1hour 25 minutes journey. Trains leave mark the bicentenary of Jane Austen’s socially.socially. Call Call 01256 01256 814 814 222 222 or or visit visit turned again to London Waterloo for Alton hourly. A museum to Jane’s life, the house in which arrival at the house in Chawton. Visitors www.hiddenbritaintours.co.ukwww.hiddenbritaintours.co.uk writing and it was Visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or call 08457 484 950. Jane lived so happily, now showcases Austen can see the Austen family kitchen, SOUTHAMPTON Coastal Hampshire and the : here that she Alternatively,Alternatively, contactcontact WinchesterWinchester TouristTourist family portraits and touching memorabilia renovated to reflect a typical Georgian what to see produced her It’s also possible to reach Alton by steam train using Beaulieu River 10 such as the handkerchief she embroidered for layout; learn more about the life and InformationInformation CentreCentre onon 0196201962 840840 500500 oror Netley Abbey the Watercress Line from Alresford, journey 13 Today’s visitors can gain insight into Portsmouth’s greatest works, her sister, original manuscripts and a bookcase times of Jane Austen in the Learning visitvisit www.winchestertouristguides.comwww.winchestertouristguides.com to 12 duration 40 minutes. naval history by visiting: revising all previous containing first editions of her novels. Centre and browse the well-stocked findto find out out about about taking taking a tour a tour in the in the 15 Visit www.watercressonline.co.uk for details or call Portsmouth Historic Dockyard tel: 023 9283 766, drafts and writing shop for the perfect Austen souvenir. companycompany of of one one of of the the district’s district’s official official Beaulieu Visitors can stand behind the modest 01962 733 810. A taxi from Alton Station to 9 web: www.historicdockyard.co.uk PO1 3LJ Mansfield Park, tourist guides.tourist guides. Abbey occasional table at which Austen wrote, to Also in the village is Jane’s brother Portsea and Chawton House costs approximately £7. Booking NEW 14 PORTSMOUTH The Royal Armouries at Fort Nelson admire the peaceful garden cultivated to Edward’s home - now Chawton FOREST 8 tel: 01329 233 734, PO17 6AN in their th 8 9 advised, tel: Chawton Cabs 01420 564 448 or Buckler's Hard feature 18 century plants. House Library. The collection of - Getting to Portsmouth web: www.royalarmouries.org/visit-us/fort-nelson Wilson’s Taxis on 01420 877 77. entirety. women's writing from 1600 to 1830 Direct trains leave Winchester station hourly To visit from Winchester by car, follow signs to the For directions by car, details about Jane Austen Blue Badge Guide stored here is accessible to visitors for Portsmouth, journey duration one hour. by prior arrangement. A31 then to Chawton. To visit from London by car: walks and the City of Southampton Society’s Jane Austen Heritage Trains depart from London Sisterly loveISLE OF WIGHT from M25 Junction 12, M3 to Junction 5, B3349 to Trail please call Southampton Tourist Information Centre, Chawton: what to see Waterloo every 15 minutes, It was Jane’s older witness to the tel: 023 8083 3333 or visit www.southampton.gov.uk For the latest information about Jane Austen’s house in ‘Our Chawton House Odiham and Alton, follow signs for Chawton. sister, Cassandra, who description of her by journey duration around 2 Other attractions: Chawton visit: www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk or call how much we find sketched the only Sir Egerton Brydges hours. For more information 18 Getting to Winchester 01420 832 62. Admission price: £6 per adult, concessions apply. already in it to our mind, first - hand likeness of who had visited Netley Abbey, visit www.netleyabbey.info SO31 5GA and directions contact Visit www.chawton.org for information about Edward’s House, the author - shown Steventon: ‘Her hair and how convinced Winchester is just under an hour by direct train from London Waterloo and Beaulieu River, contact New Forest Museum and Visitor Centre, now Chawton House Library or call 01420 541 010. Guided tour Portsmouth Visitor expressive. She had that when complete between 15 and 25 minutes from Southampton Central. Drivers on the upper left of was dark brown and tel: 023 8028 4404 price: £6 per adult, concessions apply. Postcode: GU34 1SJ. Information Centre, clear brown skin and approaching Winchester from the north should exit at Junction 9 on the the map above. The curled naturally, her it will all other houses beat.’ tel: 023 9282 6722. blushed so brightly Buckler’s Hard, tel: 01590 616 203 or M3. From the South Coast use the M27 and M3; West Country A303, tiny portrait, painted large dark eyes were in 1810, bears lasting widely opened and and so readily.’ visit www.bucklershard.co.uk SO42 7XB Jane Austen A34 and M3 and South East M20, M25 and M3 or A272. Beaulieu Abbey (within the grounds of Beaulieu National Motor Museum), tel: 01590 612 345 or visit www.beaulieu.co.uk SO42 7ZN www.winchesteraustentrail.co.uk For more information on planning your visit call Winchester Tourist Information Centre on 01962 840 500 or see www.visitwinchester.co.uk www.winchesteraustentrail.co.uk