Two hundred years after its publication, Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” remains one of the most widely read books in the world, enthralling readers with its timeless portrayal of romance, marriage, inter-family and class relationships that still intrigue us to this day. What better way to step into her world than to pay a visit to one of her homes in Chawton (now Jane Austen’s House Museum), near Alton, Hampshire.

Although Jane lived in several places in Hampshire, as well as Somerset (in Bath where there is also a Jane Austen Museum), she spent the last eight years of her life (1809-1817) in the heart of Chawton Village, living in a small, two-level, red brick house that was once the home of the bailiff of Chawton Great House. Jane’s brother Edward, had inherited the estate from a wealthy cousin and invited his mother and sisters to live there after the death of his father.

While her widowed mother and elder sister, Cassandra, busied themselves tending house and garden, Jane was free to write. It was at Chawton that she was able to revise her manuscript of “Pride and Prejudice” (initially entitled “First Impressions”) and succeeded in having it published, anonymously, in 1813. Six other Austen novels were either revised or penned in this house.  However, Jane Austen’s identity was known to very few people during her lifetime. “Sense and Sensibility” was published “By a Lady,” and all the other novels were attributed to “The author of ‘Sense and Sensibility’.” This anonymity gave Jane the ability to remain in the background, keenly observing the people of her time, listening to their conversations and transforming them into the characters in her novels.

The house, which was built in 1690, was already 120 years old when Jane and her family moved in. Although some parts have been slightly modified in the intervening years, it has been fully restored, using furniture and possessions that actually belonged to Jane and her family.

In the vestibule are two crosses given to Cassandra and Jane by their brother, Charles, who had received some prize money for participating in the capture of a French ship during the Napoleonic War that had recently ended.  In the drawing room is a piano with handwritten music, just waiting for Jane or Cassandra to sit down and play, as they did to practice in the mornings.  As you enter the dining room, near the window are a small round table and chair, enclosed in glass. On the table, a quill pen sits in its stand. This is where Jane wrote her novels. She insisted that the squeaky door into the room not be oiled so that it would serve as a warning to hide her manuscript from visitors. Upstairs, Jane and Cassandra’s bedroom is the most poignant, where you almost feel her presence. On the wall is a copy of the poem, “Venta” which Jane wrote three days before she died; opposite the window look for the copy of Jane’s will, as well as a landscape watercolor and a needlepoint sampler by Cassandra.

Mrs. Austen’s room contains cases with a number of family heirlooms including books, games, and lockets containing the hair of deceased family members. Further down the hall is the “Admiral’s Room” with naval memorabilia belonging to Jane’s brothers, Francis Austen, who became Admiral of the Fleet, and Charles Austen, who became a Rear Admiral.

When you have finished visiting inside, wander out into the beautiful, peaceful garden restored using flowers popular in Jane Austen’s time. She mentions these quite a lot in her writings. There are wooden benches placed strategically around the lawn where you can sit and soak up the silence. Behind a hedge is the vegetable and herb garden which provided the family’s food. Next to the main structure is the Bakehouse with its large brick oven where the family would have baked its bread. Jane Austen’s donkey carriage, which she used to move around after she became ill, is in a corner. Near the Bake House, a deep well provided the Austens with pure, cold water to drink.

Just off Winchester Road, not far from the Museum is the small graveyard at Chawton, St. Nicholas Church where Cassandra and her mother are buried. Jane herself died in Winchester where she had gone to seek medical help and is buried there in the Cathedral. She was just 44 years old.

Jane Austen was witty, funny and sarcastic, a keen observer of the human spirit, who bucked the tradition of her time by never marrying. Her persistence and hard work have left us with some of the greatest novels of all times. On the 200th anniversary of the publication of “Pride and Prejudice,” a visit to her former home is an excellent way to celebrate her life.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIP

Flash photography is not permitted in the house; however, the natural light inside most of the rooms is such that by raising the ISO, you will be able to take your photographs.

IF YOU GO
Chawton is located 1 mile southwest of Alton, Hampshire. From London take M25 to Exit 10 onto A3 towards Guidford; follow A3 along Guildford bypass and onto A31; go past Farnham and Alton; at Chawton roundabout (A31/A32) follow the signposts. There is a train from London Waterloo Station to Alton every hour connecting with a bus (X64) to Alton Butts from where it is a short walk to the village and the museum.  There is a tiny gift shop where you can buy Jane Austen’s books and related mementos. Opening hours change depending on the season; for precise times, check the website at www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk; Tel 44-0-1420-83262.

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