Jane Austen is one of the most beloved romance writers of all time. His novels have been reissued countless times and a few film and television adaptations of his work have been made. For fans of literature, today we propose a route through Jane Austen’s England , through those charming places that inspired this famous author.
Hampshire, start of Jane Austen’s route through England
Chawton House
The route through Jane Austen’s England begins with a must-see: the author’s House Museum. This typical English house is located in Chawton, Hampshire and was Austen’s last home. In this house his 6 novels were conceived and developed: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.
At Chawton, Austen lived the last 8 years of her life in the company of her mother, her sister Cassandra and her friend Martha Lloyd, until she fell ill. Jane left the house, which dates back to the 17th century, and left for Winchester in July 1817 to seek medical treatment, but died 2 months later. In 1949, after a legal process, the Jane Austen Society managed to buy the house and open it as a museum dedicated to the life and work of the author.
We advise you to start your journey here to soak up the life of Austen. Here you will be able to observe an important collection of objects associated with the author, which include c artas and other personal effects such as jewels, the first editions of her books, furniture, textiles and, of course, the table on which she wrote all her work.
Church of San Nicolás
In Steventon, Hampshire, is the church of St. Nicholas, built approximately in the year 1200. It is believed that this church inspired Jane to relate the encounters and glances between the protagonists while they attended the service and, of course, also for weddings. Austen lived for 25 years in Steventon, in a rectory near St. Nicholas. Here he wrote much of Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensitivity, and Northanger Abbey.
Winchester Cathedral, an important enclave on Jane Austen’s route through England
Winchester Cathedral , also in the county of Hampshire, is one of the largest cathedrals in England and a clear example of the Perpendicular Gothic style. Under the vault of this cathedral, lie the remains of Jane Austen. The epitaph prays the qualities of the author and highlights “the benevolence of her heart, the kindness of her temperament and the extraordinary gifts of her mind .”
Years after his death, a plaque was added in which he is recognized as a writer and in which Edward Austen himself added a phrase: “He opened his mouth with wisdom and in his tongue resides the law of goodness.”
Derbyshire, birthplace of Mr. Darcy
Chatsworth House
“I would not dance with him or be offered all of Derbyshire, much less half” , is a famous phrase from the film Pride and Prejudice (2005). In the scene in question Mr. Darcy (ideal man prototype) refuses to dance with Elizabeth Bennet (the heroine of the story). He, a rich man and possessor of much of Derbyshire and a beautiful house in it: Pemberley. She, the second of 5 sisters who gave a lot to talk about. Romance between the two seems impossible, but there is one place where Lizzie begins to feel things for Darcy: Pemberley.
Pemberley was Darcy’s estate in Derbyshire and, although it is a figment of Austen’s imagination, it is believed that the Chatsworth house was the author’s true inspiration for creating Darcy’s home. So much so that this house was chosen to shoot the scenes of the aforementioned movie starring Keira Knightley. Chatsworth House has been home to the Duke and Duchess of Cavendish for 16 generations. You can come and visit the house, with its 30 rooms and its 105-acre garden. You can also enjoy the huge private art collection, including the incredible sculpture gallery featured in the 2005 film.
Kent, tribute to the Austen
In Godmersham Park, a brick mansion, lived Edward Knight, better known as Edward Austen. Edward was the heir to Godmersham Park and he very often received Jane as his guest. Here, Jane did the full Sense and Sensitivity review. If you decide to come to Godmersham Park, as part of your route through Jane Austen’s England , you will be able to marvel at the beautiful views; from Knight’s house you can take a walk to St. Lawrence Church, where Edward Austen is commemorated. We also advise you to visit the Godmersham Park Heritage Center, where there is a small collection of objects related to the author, including the diary of her niece, Fanny Knight.
Bath, the place Jane Austen never liked
Jane Austen never liked Bath. It is believed that because of the hot springs. So for Jane it was a martyrdom when her father decided, in 1800, to move to this city. Interestingly, despite hating Bath, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion take place here. How not to detest Bath? Here, the patriarch of the family died, but also a suitor of the young Austen.
It is believed that, on their frequent trips to the coast during the summer, Jane met a boy who fell in love with her. They said goodbye with the promise to meet again, but he died. This passage from Jane’s life was transmitted by her sister Cassandra to her nieces and, although there is no record, it is believed that it served as the inspiration for writing Persuasion.
On your route through Jane Austen’s England, be sure to visit the Jane Austen Center in Bath. It is a public museum located on Gay Street, in a Georgian house (in which the author lived) and a few meters from number 25, where the Austens lived. The Center has many activities such as walking tours visiting sites from the Georgian era; places Jane Austen used to go.
London, end of Jane Austen’s route through England
London is a must on this tour. We advise you to go to the National Gallery in London to see the only authentic portrait of Jane Austen; the portrait in question was made to illustrate the book Memoirs , written by Edward Austen-Leigh. You should also visit the British Library where they keep a notebook of the author; This one was given to him by his father and has illustrations of his sister Cassandra and in it, Jane Austen wrote her first stories. Other treasures housed in the library are manuscripts of unpublished chapters of Persuasion and a small wooden desk of the author.
