On the Trail of Jane Austen Continued

Back in June we visited the home of Jane Austen at Chawton, Hampshire.

The museum is entered via the backyard where there are several outbuildings.

The back of the house.

As you walk around to the front of the house

there is the kitchen to view,

before walking in through the front door to the main house.

The front parlour.

The dining room.

The dining room door hinges were left to squeak so that Jane could hide her manuscript when hearing someone at the door!

Her writing desk.

Going upstairs next.

The sisters' bedroom.

A copy of Cassandra's watercolour of Jane (1811), the only surviving image of her.  The original is in the National Portrait Gallery.

The next bedroom held displays, plus a painting of Jane's great, great grandfather.

Cup and ball toy, made of ivory, reputed to be the actual one Jane played with.  According to her nephew she was quite skilled at the game.

Diamond surrounded miniature of Philadelphia Hancock, aunt to Jane and mother to Henry Austen's wife.

Upstairs corridor leading to bedrooms and rooms holding displays.

Chains for muffs belonging to Jane.

Cassandra's handkerchief embroidered by Jane.

Needlecase made by Jane for her niece Louisa

The Admiral's Room.
Jane's brother Lt. Francis Austen

The cabin bed that would have been dismantled to take on board.

Early 18th C Burmese temple bell presented to Rear Admiral Charles Austen

Jane was an accomplished stitcher and made this embroidered muslin shawl.

She also helped stitch this patchwork quilt, along with her sister and mother.

I will detail more about the quilt in a separate post.

Beautiful topaz crosses on display belonging to Jane and Cassandra.


Jane's turquoise ring and beaded bracelet.

Beside the museum was a bookbench, one of a series that had been commissioned to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Jane's death.  Over the summer we found all of the benches.

SaveSave