As an avid reader, I was thrilled to discover that Regency novelist Jane Austen spent some of her most prolific writing years not far from where I live. The pretty cottage where Jane wrote Mansfield Park, Emma and Persuasion is now a museum in the picturesque village of Chawton in Hampshire.
All photographs in this post are © Jane Austen House Museum and are used with permission.
Not only can you visit the Jane Austen’s house in person (at the time of writing, pre-booking is essential), but you can also experience what it was like to be at home with a well loved Regency novelist online. So distance and circumstance should prove no impediment to stepping back in time into Jane’s world.
Step Into The World of a Regency Novelist
Jane Austen House
When Jane arrived at Chawton in 1809, she had drafts of Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Northanger Abbey with her. It’s possible she may have revised them there before they were published, in addition to writing three more novels.
The house fell into private ownership after Jane’s death in 1817, However, in 1947 the house was purchased by a Mr T E Carpenter, who turned it into a museum with the help of the Jane Austen society. The museum contains many of the Austen family’s personal effects. You can even see the small writing table where this well loved Regency novelist wrote.
Jane’s writing table was placed by a window as she struggled with her eyesight. It is said that Jane often wrote on small pieces of paper she could simply fold away so as to keep her stories from prying eyes.
Jane’s bedroom is decorated as it would have been in the time she lived there. Some of Jane’s jewellery and a few of her remaining letters are also on display. (Many of Jane’s letters were sadly destroyed after Jane’s death.)
Want to see more? You can visit Jane Austen’s Home from Your Home with a 360° virtual tour, or visit the house in person. Check the website for opening times. At the time of writing all visits must be pre-booked.
Visiting Regency Novelist Jane Austen’s House Museum
Whether circumstances allow travel or not, you can still experience the world of Regency novelist Jane Austen with a visit to what was possibly one of her favourite homes. Immerse yourself even further with Austen Wednesdays, a digital programme of talks and conversations recommencing on 27th January 2021.
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Comments & Reviews
That is so very cool. Thanks for sharing it with us. Very nice.
Thank you, Patrick! I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
I’ve had the opportunity to visit the Jane Austen museum in Bath, but it is on my bucket list to actually visit Chawton. Hopefully some year soon…
I visited the museum in Bath a few years ago too and really enjoyed it. I have yet to visit Chawton in real life, but I have a visit planned in February. I do hope we will be able to go! I hope you are able to visit one day soon too, Molly!
MIssed the talk, because I’m in the U.S. and saw this too late. Sure it was fun. Thanks for sharing.
I’m so sorry you missed it, Nancy! Be sure to check out the online tours of the house though, they are wonderful. And there are Austen Wednesdays online talks to look forward to in the New Year!
This is so cool. If you’re like me, April, you wish you could just close your eyes and get a 15-minute peek at Jane and her life back then. We have a very historic home near us that was the home of two signers of the Declaration of Independence (and much history after that as well) and every time I visit, I so wish that I could just close my eyes and observe daily life there during the heyday. If you and Guy ever make it to my area of the west coast, come visit and I’ll take you sightseeing. Seriously.
Shirley
Obviously, I meant EAST COAST! LOL Don’t know how that mistake occurred. I’ll blame it on my evening cocktail. 😉
No worries, Shirley! That happens to me after an evening cocktail too!
I am definitely like you, Shirley! I would love to be able to travel back in time (as long as I could get back to now, of course!). And we will definitely take you up on the offer if we can, Shirley. Thank you!
So interesting, and fascinated by Austin’s quirky habit of scribbling on little scraps of paper. Truly a kindred spirit!
I’m so interested in Jane Austen, and I was really excited to learn she lived so close to where I do now (about an hour’s drive). I’ve got a press visit booked in February that I really hope I’ll be able to attend!