I am a little embarrassed to say that I didn’t realise that the little village of Chawton in Hampshire was once the home of one of our literary giants … in the rather demure figure of Jane Austen.

Seeing the sign to Chawton when returning from Goodwood one day, I stopped a while to visit her former home, now a museum named in her honour.

Whilst the characters in her novels spring to life, the author herself seems to be a bit of an enigma but you can really feel her spirit as you walk through the rooms of her house – particularly when you see her small writing table, perched close to a front window.  This is where most of her mature writing was undertaken.

There are letters however that give you more of an insight into this remarkable woman whose work was published incognito – it was not deemed “proper” for a woman to publish her own work at the time.  She has two brass memorial plaques in nearby Winchester Cathedral for those on the Jane Austen trail.

Jane Austen House & Museum, Chawton, Alton, Hampshire, GU24 1SD.  Adult entry is currently GBP7 a ticket – opening times vary – check their website.  Well worth a visit.

Museum in the news: From 14th February 2014, Jane Austen’s ring, bought from singer Kelly Clarkson, will be on display in the museum.

Contributor & photographer:  Sue Lowry

The Jane Austen House Museum is on Facebook/jane Austen’s House Museum.

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