Jane Austen’s legacy has extended
far beyond her beloved novels and the adaptations that provide comfort to so
many. Particularly in Bath (which, incidentally, Austen hated) and Hampshire
where she lived, there are so many places to visit and see which allow you a
glimpse into Austen’s world in Georgian England and what remains of her
personal life. So here are a few cool things to do around the UK:
During
the summer, the Jane Austen Centre put on a 90 minute walking tour of Jane’s
Bath. Led around the city by either Lizzie or Darcy, you’ll visit places
important in her novels and her time in the city.
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| Source: Jane Austen |
Situated
in a Georgian townhouse in the centre of Bath, just a few minutes’ walk from
the Circus and Royal Crescent, the Jane Austen Museum is a permanent exhibition
that displays Jane’s experience of Bath and the bearing it had on her work, as
well as lots of history about the city that will paint a portrait of what it
would have been like in the early 19th Century.
The Jane
Austen Centre also houses a gorgeous Regency Tea Room and a gift shop that I
personally visited a good many times during my time at university in Bath. It’s
a Janeite’s dream.
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| Source: Jane Austen Festival |
The Jane
Austen Festival is a 10-day celebration of all things Austen in Bath. It runs
every year in September and features a full programme of events featuring,
talks, readings, screenings, walking tours, dances, workshops and the famous
parade. When I lived in Bath I loved to watch the troupes of men, women and
children marching through the city streets in full Regency dress. It’s a glorious
sight and Bath is filled with a magical zeal throughout the promenade. There’s
also a grand summer ball every year.
In 1816,
when Jane was getting increasingly ill, she travelled with her sister Cassandra
to Winchester in a bid to get help from the new hospital next to the cathedral.
Unfortunately, Jane’s conditioned worsened quickly and she died in July 1817
and was buried in the Cathedral under a simple grave which mentions nothing of
her writing.
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| Source: Jane Austen's House Museum |
Jane lived
in this little cottage in Chawton for eight years along with her mother and
sister who continued to live there until the death of Cassandra where it was
turned into accommodation for labourers for the next 100 years. It was then
bought by a MR TE Carpenter who turned it into a museum celebrating Jane and
her life and work. The house contains lots of artefacts of Jane’s and
represents the simple lodgings of most early 19th Century families.
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| Source: British Library |
As per
her request, Jane’s sister, Cassandra, destroyed most of Jane’s personal
letters upon her death, but a few do still remain. The British Library holds 13
original documents in Jane’s hand, including letters and a few pages of a
manuscript detailing an alternative ending to Persuasion which she later revised. I’ll be making a pilgrimage to
the British Library next year to see these myself.
Where would you like to visit?
Any literary places I should add to my list?
Sophie
I've loved this series! My dream is to see all Janes's historical sites, although the house and grave are top of List. Then I'd move on to the Brontes, Virginia Woolf and Enid Blyton!
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