Jane Austen Regency Week 2015 boasted of quite a few events and talks as well as two walking tours hosted by the local historian, Jane Hurst. Susan Mason-Milks and I both signed up for Ms. Hurst’s walk of Chawton the first weekend, and were impressed with Ms. Hurst’s knowledge of the local history, as well as the former occupants and owners of many of the cottages in Chawton—even giving us lines from Jane Austen’s letters to illustrate Miss Austen’s opinions or knowledge of the individuals or families she knew.
For those who might be unaware of Jane Austen’s history in Chawton, Jane’s brother, Edward, was heir for the Thomas Knight II and his wife Catherine since they had no children of their own. The Knights, who owned Godmersham in Kent, Chawton House in Hampshire, as well as other properties, selected Edward as their heir, paid for his education, and upon receiving his inheritance in 1797, Edward took on the name Knight to become Edward Austen-Knight.
In 1809, Edward offered the use of a cottage in Chawton to his mother and his sisters, Cassandra and Jane. Jane wrote the final drafts of all of her works in Chawton, publishing four novels during this time and two posthumously.
The tour began on the Alton side of an underpass that connects Chawton and the town of Alton. The underpass would not have been present in Jane Austen’s day, but it’s built along a path that existed in her time. Miss Austen walked frequently between Chawton and Alton for various purposes. On Regency Day, Ms. Hurst informed us that Jane Austen visited the building behind our table to see the local doctor, and it is also known that she collected her post at what is now The Swan, a local inn and restaurant.
Ms. Hurst also explained how the lines separating Alton and Chawton had changed since Jane Austen made those walks back and forth between her home and Alton, giving a better idea of Miss Austen’s surroundings.
After passing through the underpass to where present day Chawton begins, Ms. Hurst enlightened us on the many cottages and homes which would have been present in Jane Austen’s time, often explaining a link to Miss Austen if it existed.
We learned about laborer’s cottages, the old Dower House for the Knight family (now Alphonsus House), some of the local topography, as well as a bit about Jane Austen’s House, a few facts surprising quite a few of us. All of us found it interesting that the main intersection in front of Jane Austen’s house was once a lake, and the murmurs and photos abounded when Ms. Hurst pointed out a façade constructed of a sort of brick tile, placed over the original bricks on one wall of Jane Austen’s house, which indicated there was once a problem with damp inside the home.
Jane Hurst’s walking tour helped me to connect many of the old cottages and locales to Jane Austen in a way I would have missed simply walking around the village–not to mention the information on the owners and how the structures had changed over time.
Chawton is a quaint and beautiful village so steeped in Austen history that anyone who loves Jane Austen can’t help but adore it! It is easy for me, now that I have been to Jane Austen’s old stomping grounds, to see why she was so content in such surroundings. She would have to be happy to write as she did while living in Chawton.
Thanks to Jane Austen Regency Week for use of two of the photos! 🙂 I was so busy taking pictures of the cottages that I didn’t take any of the group!
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I really enjoyed our walks into Chawton, Leslie-I’m sorry I missed the talk-sounds fascinating!
Author
I loved our walks into Chawton as well. They were always full of good conversation and of course gorgeous homes. Thanks, Jane!
I was once enroute to Chawton & got lost. I found myself in Alton, which was the friendliest place imaginable, plus they had a wonderful church bazaar. Chawton Cottage is always special, but Chawton itself paled in comparison to friendly and outgoing Alton!
Author
Jane Hurst has a walking tour of Alton as well, but it was the final weekend. I couldn’t stay that long 🙁
The people of Alton are very friendly. We met some wonderful people there during our stay. I’m glad you enjoyed it as you did. Thanks, Beatrice!
Lovely!!! I felt as if I had accompanied you all on your lovely walking tour! Thank you, Leslie!!
Warmly,
Susanne 🙂
Author
I’m so glad, Susanne! Thanks so much!
Thanks for sharing this great tour – it looks like it was fascinating. It also looks like you had really nice weather which showed off everything even better.
Author
The weather was excellent every day but Regency Day, so we couldn’t complain. I’m glad you enjoyed my little recap! Thanks, Kathy!
Sounds like a fascinating walk and talk, Leslie. Thanks for letting us share it with you.
Author
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks, Anji!
I walked from Alton to Chawton straight after the Abigail Reynolds Workshop on the Tuesday. Aside from getting a bit lost. (Thank goodness for Google Maps). Even with my backpack I could feel the ambience of the place and the route she would have taken. I was so inspired I wrote quite a bit in the gardens of the house. Finally breaking my block. That entire day was inspiring and despite my travel problems I can’t wait to venture back in the near future.
Author
I do think Chawton is an inspiring village. I was always just happy to get safely across the road by the roundabout and the train tunnel in Alton! That’s a tricky cross! Thanks, Laura!
Thank you so much for the information and your tour of Chawton. I almost feel as if I was with you.
Author
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks, Deborah!
Any labels on who is in that last group of variation authors? Enjoyed reading of all the experiences and looking at the photos. Thanks for sharing, again.
Just added a label to the photo, Sheila! Thanks!
Thank you. I did check it out. Love JAFF authors.