Chawton House
Chawton House can be found about 400m away from the cottage where Jane Austen lived for the last eight years of her life. In the late 18th century, it was the home of her brother, Edward Austen Knight, who had been adopted by Thomas and Catherine Knight, wealthy relations of Jane’s father. Jane was a frequent visitor to what she knew as the 'Great House', mentioning it a number of times in her letters and the house can be visited today.
Places in the house associated with Jane include the reading alcove in the Oak Room where, according to Knight family legend, she liked to sit and I really enjoyed imagining her curled up here with a good book, enjoying a few moments peace away from the rest of the family! Visitors can also see the family dining table at which Jane dined with her brothers and sisters when visiting.
Today, Chawton houses a unique collection of women’s writing which is accessible to anyone who wishes to use it. Research and understanding of early women writers is undertaken with a view to restoring them to their rightful place in the history of English literature. Many of the works in the collection were entirely neglected throughout the twentieth century. Works on display vary, but gems such as Mary Astell’s ‘A Serious Proposal to the Ladies’ (1694) and Mary Wollstonecraft’s ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman’ (1792), and works by Frances Burney can be seen. It is a fascinating place to visit for many reasons.
Found in the grounds of Chawton House, not far from the Jane Austen House Museum, is St Nicholas’s Church, which Jane attended from 1809 to 1817 whilst living at the cottage. However, the building is not the same one Austen worshiped in as a fire in 1871 destroyed most of that church.
Jane’s mother and sister are buried in the graveyard and a statue of Jane, erected in 2018, stands near the church entrance. It is a lovely peaceful location
Chawton House and St Nicholas Church,
Chawton,
Alton
GU34 1SJ
You can read about Jane Austen’s House here, the Jane Austen Centre in Bath here, Jane Austen’s grave here, the Bath Assembly Rooms here and Pemberley locations here.
