Jane Austen Regency Week in Hampshire: Looking Back and Looking Forward by Cassandra Grafton

LogoAs many of you know, earlier this summer I was lucky enough to be in England for the Jane Austen Regency Week in Hampshire, where I also enjoyed the company of fellow Austen Variations’ authors, Abigail Reynolds, Jane Odiwe and Monica Fairview.

This annual event takes place on the third week in June, and this year we were blessed with lovely weather for most of the time! The activities and events are varied, and you can see what was on the calendar this year by clicking here

The base for the Regency week is Alton, a town wholly familiar to Jane Austen and her mother and sister as it was the nearest of any size to the village of Chawton where they lived. Alton was also home to some of Jane’s brothers during certain stages of their lives.

St Lawrence Church, Alton, where Jane attended some services

St Lawrence Church, Alton, where Jane attended some services

Together, we managed to attend several events, including Regency Day on the opening Saturday, the talk on the recent archaeological dig at the site of Steventon Rectory, and a guided, Austen-themed tour of Chawton Great House. In addition, though not on the main calendar, we all spent a delightful afternoon together on a Hidden Britain Tour with our knowledgeable guide, Phil, who took us to many of the places Jane frequented during her time in Hampshire, both before the move to Bath and after.

Site of Steventon Rectory, with the 'new' rectory in the distance

Site of Steventon Rectory, with the ‘new’ rectory in the distance

We saw many familiar houses, churches and even vistas, which had changed little since Jane lived in Hampshire. Our guide’s knowledge of Jane and her life (including randomly quoting from her letters from memory) truly enhanced this wonderful afternoon, and if you ever want to really walk where Jane Austen did and see what she saw, I highly recommend taking the tour.

After we all went our separate ways, I did manage to attend a few other events, including the talk on Alton in the days of Jane Austen, the musical recital and the Regency supper with dancing.

John Mullan in full flow in Chawton Village Hall

John Mullan in full flow in Chawton Village Hall

One of the highlights was John Mullan’s talk, during a torrential downpour, on the final Saturday, with so many people crammed into Chawton Village Hall, they ran out of chairs! Though titled ‘What Matters in Mansfield Park’, John’s ‘talk’ wasn’t solely about the one book but touched upon several of them. His presentation was informal and inclusive, with lots of audience participation and a great deal of laughter! Again, highly recommended, and if anyone is due to be in Bath in September for the Jane Austen Festival, he will be doing a similar session. I have my ticket, and I advise you to book early because he’s clearly a sell-out!

Supper centrepiece

Supper centrepiece

The last event I attended (though not the last of the entire week) was the Saturday evening supper with dancing. Wow, what a spread the chef put on for us! It was served in true period style, with the desserts jostling for space on the table with the main courses, and as you can see from the photos, beautifully presented.

Platter of cold meats

Platter of cold meats

Prior to sitting down, however, we were treated to a display of Regency dancing by the talented and entertaining Hampshire Regency Dancers, and then they invited attendees to join them in several more dances, giving gentle guidance along the way, and much fun was had by all!

What did I like most about this event, one I was attending for the first time? It was in Hampshire, and Jane is all around you there! She lived in Steventon for the first 25 years of her life and Chawton for the last nine, so almost 90% of her life was spent in the county. The emphasis was very much upon Jane and her environment, with all events taking place in Alton and Chawton, including the Jane Austen House Museum.

Cream tea in the kitchen at Chawton Great House

Cream tea in the kitchen at Chawton Great House

We also had the opportunity to meet and talk with Mr Jeremy Knight, a descendant of Jane’s brother Edward, and the last of the Knights, along with his family, to reside in Chawton Great House. Mr Knight is often to be found at the Museum, guiding people around or just talking to them, and he also accompanied one of the Great House tour groups. Surely there is no finer authority on what it is truly like to not only have lived in a house so intimately linked to Jane Austen, but to be a part of Jane’s family?

What next? Well, developments are underway already for next year’s Jane Austen Regency Week (20th to 28th June 2015). As you may already be aware from comments on the Austen Variations’ Facebook page, several of us plan to attend next year (I think it was six at the last count and is likely to rise!), some of whom are in conversation with the organising committee to establish some new events to add to the traditional ones. 

Interior of Dummer Church (during Hidden Britain Tour). Friends of the Austens, the Terry family, lived in Dummer

Interior of Dummer Church (during Hidden Britain Tour). Friends of the Austens, the Terry family, lived in Dummer

There is likely to be a book sale and signing during the opening Regency Day, a  panel discussion one evening and possibly some writing workshops. Other events we’re hoping to see include walking tours of Alton and Chawton and a special readers-only lunch meeting with the authors.

The Committee is also keen to learn what else might encourage Jane Austen fans to come along and join in the fun in such a wonderful location, and this is where you all come in!

Of the events from this year, what would you have loved to take part in? In addition, we’d love to know what you think would be the icing on the cake,  the number one enticement to make you determined to get there? Also, with everything open for discussion, is there something in particular you would like to see on offer relating to the Austen-inspired authors?

Do please share your thoughts in the Comments, and we look forward to seeing some of you in Hampshire next June!

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  1. Everything you’ve described sounds simply amazing! The writing workshops are my icing. Did you have free time or were your days pretty well organized?

  2. Lots of free time, Evie! The Regency Week has been developing slowly over the years, having started as just a weekend event, and although there’s always something happening each day, often it’s evening only leaving the day open.

    Next year may be a slightly fuller schedule though, as I know the Committee is keen to bring in new things to enhance the more traditionally held events.

  3. Thank you for this wonderful summary of Regency week. I enjoyed every minute, even though I was only there for two days. Can’t wait for next year to come round!

  4. I can’t either, Monica! It was so much fun spending time with fellow authors and indulging in all things Jane!!

    • Jane Odiwe on August 13, 2014 at 5:42 am
    • Reply

    Lovely memories of a special few days, Cassandra! Gorgeous photos of events I didn’t get to see-love that salmon and platter of meat. Looking forward to next year!

  5. I wish there was room for more photos! The ones of the Hampshire countryside and of the Alton buildings Jane was familiar with are all lovely too! Here’s to next year, Jane!

    • Kara Louise on August 13, 2014 at 9:31 am
    • Reply

    What a wonderful time you all must have had! Thanks for sharing with us!

    1. Thanks for commenting, Kara Louise! It was a lot of fun; hope you can join us next year!

    • Sheila L. M. on August 13, 2014 at 11:15 am
    • Reply

    Touring the buildings, the dinner and the dancing sound so very lovely. I have to do this vicariously through those who get to go so the more you write and the more photos you include the more I enjoy a little trip with you. Thank you for sharing. What a fine group of friends for this trip!

    1. It was very special, Sheila, to attend in such lovely company! I hope you will get the chance to go too one of these years!

  6. Thanks for sharing your trip and lovely pictures with us, Cassandra. It sounds like so much fun. I’m hungry right now so all that food really looks yummy!

    1. The food was delicious, Janet! I know you would enjoy the week very much if you had chance to get there! Here’s hoping!

  7. What fabulous pictures, Sandra!! Thank you for taking the time to share your photos and memories with us 😉 .

    1. Thanks, Marilyn! It was so much fun and great to spend time with the others!

  8. Lovely post that really evokes the feeling of your visit. And what a creative chef – that adorable fish!

    1. Thanks, Diana! The cucumber and radish slices forming the ‘scales’ were SO finely cut, it was incredible! I sat right next to the salmon platter and couldn’t take my eyes off it!

    • Deborah on August 15, 2014 at 5:47 am
    • Reply

    Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and pictures. I most especially liked looking at the events calendar. I would so love to be there, but, hopefully in the future. Loved the fish…it looks beautiful! It sounds like you all had a wonderful time!

    1. We had plenty of laughs, Deborah, and also learned some new things about Jane Austen. Do hope you can get there another year!

  9. Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience with us, Cassandra. The pictures are stunning too. All the suggested activities sound fabulous and I wish I could attend. As I’m living far far away (GMT+8), I don’t know when I will get the opportunity to travel to England. If one of the you staying near there can host me, that would be fantastic but it’s just a thought though. I’ll most likely be travelling alone since I cannot find friends who loves Jane Austen as much as I do.

    1. Luthien, if I was still based in England I’d be happy to have you stay and take you to any Jane Austen haunt you wished!

      However, there will be quite a few of us going next year to this festival and it may be someone has a spare bed in their accommodation they could share with you!

    • Joana Starnes on August 18, 2014 at 8:28 pm
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    What a wonderful post, Cassandra! It brought back lovely memories.
    It was wonderful to see you all there, though I’m very sorry to have missed the musical recital and that amazing display of skill that was the Regency dinner!
    Great to hear of the plans for next year and looking forward to seeing you all again in Alton/Chawton!

  10. Good to see you there, Joana! Likewise, I was sorry to miss certain events, particularly the open evening of music etc at Chawton Cottage you enjoyed attending with Sophie! I hope they have that on next year again so I can go!

    • Maggie Griscom on August 21, 2014 at 8:29 am
    • Reply

    A wonderful post! It would be nice to be there next year. I think the writing workshop is a great idea. A meet and greet with some of you all would be nice, also. Maybe a needle work demo or workshop would be the icing for me. Needle work and “sewing” are mentioned so often in Austen, being one of the main occupations for women of the time. I find, at least in the states, it is becoming a lost art. I really enjoy your post about trips and events.

      • Sheila L. M. on August 21, 2014 at 1:48 pm
      • Reply

      Ironically, before I even discovered JA and JAFF, I was and still am doing needlework. And I have done quilling. At present I am working crewel work on a Christmas tree skirt with the theme “T’was The Night Before Christmas”. And I have sewn many clothes, including dresses with smocking on the front for my daughters and have made sets of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls for all my children and their cousins as well as felt Christmas stockings and birth samplers. So it is not entirely lost.

      1. Sheila, that sounds so much fun! I hope you will post a picture to us somehow of the finished tree skirt!

        My daughter has taken up cross stitch (she’s a natural and produces some lovely work) and I envy her!

    1. That’s interesting, Maggie. I noticed the Jane Austen House Museum has starting doing demos on needlecraft etc! I do hope you can be there next year – the more the merrier!

    • Ruth Clapp on September 30, 2014 at 9:07 pm
    • Reply

    My next international travel will be to see the important Austen sites. This sounds like a good option, with the addition of Bath. I would love to see Derbyshire but it is probably too expensive to add that on. Where does one stay in Alton?

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