In 2019, I was able to fulfill one of my bucket-list destinations, a trip to famed author Jane Austen’s former home in Chawton Hampshire. It was a bittersweet experience, as it occurred during an emergency trip to England because of the passing of my mother-in-law. Extra bittersweet, because on the previous visit, I had made plans with my mother-in-law to tour some of the Jane Austen locations together, specifically in Bath, but she had not felt well enough to make the trip. I connected with my mother-in-law over many things, including a shared love of books, so she would have been the perfect companion for the Jane Austen sites.
Noticing that we were near Chawton after visiting relatives, my husband kindly offered to make a detour to visit Jane Austen’s Chawton House. We were feeling blue with grief, but it was a nice distraction to tour this lovely and historic home. We also visited on a quiet weekday afternoon and practically had the entire museum to ourselves, which is always nice when visiting tourist destinations.
Jane Austen’s Chawton House is part of the “Jane Austen Trail,” a collection of buildings in the village of Chawton that were significant in Austen’s time. We only had time to visit her home, where the writer lived with her mother and sister from 1809-1817. At Chawton House, Austen wrote many of her beloved novels, including Emma, Persuasion, and Mansfield Park. She also completed drafts of Northanger Abbey, Pride and Prejudice, and my personal favorite, Sense and Sensibility. She was very prolific during her short time in Chawton. Austen grew ill and died in the town of Winchester, where she is buried, in the summer of 1817.
We visited in the spring of 2019, but current admission prices as of April 2021 are ten pounds for adults and a very long list of discounted prices for a variety of situations. I was quite surprised by the list, as it had some nice and unusual accommodations for visitors. Check it out. Also to note, the museum currently appears to be closed due to covid restrictions, hopefully to reopening in the near future.
We couldn’t find Marmite!
We started in the carriage house to see the donkey carriage and the adorable wicker birds.
Next, we headed inside to see the kitchen. Built in the late 1700’s, the house was originally a pub before being transformed into a private residence. The kitchen gives a glimpse into food preparation of the past and even if you’re not at all interested in Austen’s life, it is a fascinating look at a historic property.
To really get in the mood, we discovered a bunch of regency era costumes to play dress-up. I think the hat rather suits my dashing husband!
Heading to the living room we found antique furniture, letters, and other possessions belonging to Austen.
The most exciting artifact in the museum was Austen’s writing desk. I should never complain about the many plush options and multiple desks in which I have at my disposal to work on my novel. Maybe discomfort is the key to getting the job done?
The library contains various editions of Austen’s works.
This is the bedroom that Austen shared with her sister, Cassandra.
Austen’s two story house was relatively modest in size, but it was filled with artifacts. We spent about an hour visiting. Here are more pictures from the museum.
I don’t have a green thumb and I don’t enjoy gardening, but I do love admiring a stunning garden. Austen’s garden was filled with brightly colored spring blooms. I grew up in the California desert, so English gardens are quite magical to me. My sister-in-law is a landscape designer and her garden is magnificent. It is one of my favorite places in England, especially to spend time with family on a warm summer day and having cocktails. She is also talented in the cocktail making department!
After leaving the museum, we took some pictures of the Chawton village. Chawton is the quintessential English village that Americans imagine when they think of England outside of London. Some of the homes were even sporting thatched roofs.
Jane Austen’s Chawton House is a must-do pilgrimage for Austen fans. As a huge fan, who has read all of her novels multiple times, seen every film version, a few plays, et…being there gave me chills. That said, it’s a bit off-the-beaten-path for non-British tourists. It’s about an hour south of London and difficult to access unless you hire a car. I highly recommend a visit if you are able. I’ve been to many places in England, but the Jane Austen Chawton House was a favorite experience.