In the footsteps of Jane Austen in ChawtonEvery body is very much concerned at our going away, Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra
In 1809 Jane Austen moved with her sister Cassandra and their mother to the small village in Hampshire. | ||||
Jane Austen´s House Museumwww.Jane-Austens-House-Museum.org.uk Edward Austen Knight, Jane Austens brother, offers the three ladies to live in a house in Chawton, for them known as "the Cottage". The house is nowadays full of delightful objects of the Austen Family: notebooks, sewing things, the beautiful quilt (which Jane Austen, her sister Cassandra and their mother made of old clothes) and many more. There is also a large museum shop, where every Janeites´s heart beats faster and the vacation fund bleeds ;-) ... every body knows the House we describe, Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra
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Cassandras Cup Tea RoomsWinchester Road, Chawton Across the street you can find the cutest tea and coffee house, in which we ever have been. White chairs, kitschy tablecloths, a lot of cute deco (you can buy some of them); even a wonderful collection of cups hangs down from the ceiling! Apart from the interior, the bakery and indeed the Afternoon Tea are delicious. We recommend to plan a visit at Cassandras Cup! You know how interesting the purchase Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra
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Chawton HouseThomas and Catherine Knight adopt Janes brother Edward in 1783 and he becomes heir to the manor. The Great House is nowadays known as Chawton House Library and houses a library with focus on female british writers from 1600 to 1830. When you attend a guided tour through the house, you can see many, many pictures of the family. But you can also see the seat, which is supposed to be Janes favourite place; a wonderful place at the window, from which you have a lovely view to the whole way to the house and to the church. So why should she not want to sit there? And you should take some time for the beautiful garden, which is now being reconstructed after old plans by Edward Austen Knight. He talks of making a new garden; Jane Austen to her brother Frank
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St. Nicholas ChurchThe St. Nicholas Church lies on the way to the Chawton House Library. On the little churchyard you can find the gravestones of Cassandra and their mother.
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The French HornWhitedown Lane, Alton Already in Jane Austens time „The French Horn“ was a pub. But you can assume that the Austen-ladies have never been there. Quite the contrary to us – we spent many evenings there :-)
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Through the FieldsFor us, the prettiest of Chawton can be found away from the streets and houses. We walked – like Elizabeth Bennet – along a beautiful footpath through the fields and meadows. Around Chawton and Alton there are many possibilities for a walk; e.g. Mingledown Woodland, from Chawton to Upper Farringdon (both walks see below). Longer walks are described in the book „Walks from Alton“, by „Alton Ramblers“. Important while walking through fields, meadows and woods is to be respectful towards animals (needless to say), towards land owners (stay on the marked footpaths, shut the fences or leave them as you found them) and of course towards the nature (do not leave garbage, do not cut or take plants with you!). Elizabeth continued her walk alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace, Pride and Prejudice
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Mingledown WoodlandBehind the public parking area is an old forest with a little footpath (appr. 20 min.). It is told that Jane Austen walked very often through this forest - the land belonged to the estate of her brother Edward.
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From Chawton to Upper FarringdonThe Winchester Road in Chawton ends after the Chawton House Library into a footpath and goes along the A32, across a large field, over a little hill straight to Upper Farringdon. There is a little church in Upper Farringdon: the „All Saints Church“. The yew trees in front of the church are supposed to be 2.000-3.000 years old! And there is also „The Rose & Crown Inn“ in Upper Farringdon. The beerhouse is supposed to be built in 1810 by Jane Austens brother Edward: www.roseandcrownfarringdon.co.uk Harriet Benn sleeps at the Great House tonight and spends tomorrow with us; Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra
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Travelling to Alton:
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In the Footsteps of
Our Journeys in the Footsteps of Jane Austen
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What are men to rocks and mountains? Oh! What hours of transport we shall spend! And when we do return, it shall not be like other travellers, without being able to give one accurate idea of any thing. We will know where we have gone; we will recollect what we have seen. Let our first effusions be less insupportable than those of the generality of travellers. Pride and Prejudice |