In Search Of Jane

 I admit it, I love Jane Austen's novels.  In part, it is the romance between her characters such as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy, or Emma and her Mr. Knightley.  Partially, it is the exchanges between family members such as the Bennets or Dashwoods  and Jane Austen's odd characters like Mr. Collins or Lady Catherine de bourgh.  I love learning about the different social classes and the societal rules of interaction between those classes and genders of the day. I also love the settings of her novels, London, Bath and quaint english villages.  So when Bob and I wanted to get out of the city and enjoy some english countryside, we decided to go looking for Jane Austen's last home in a quaint village called Chawton.
 To get to Chawton we took the Tube (subway) to Waterloo Station and grabbed a train to Winchester.  Winchester is an english jewel in itself.  Part of the Roman wall that once surrounded the city can still be seen and several of the medieval gates still stand proud. Old tudor buildings now house modern shops on the street level and the old Roman road in front of them is the scene of street markets on weekends.  Winchester Cathedral, of Beatles fame, is just off the center of the old town.

Beautiful hanging baskets everywhere.

15th century city cross and tudor building behind.

The Bishops home is very grand, but I hear it is also very drafty.

Cathedral Gate is still closed every night.

Old tudor homes by Cathedral Gate.

Denise & Bob enjoying Winchester.

Winchester is an adorable town!  Look at those buildings!

Winchester Cathedral ...do, do, do, do, do....

After exploring Winchester for a few hours, we took a bus further into the country to Chawton and walked into the village to Jane Austen's home.  One of Jane's older brothers was adopted by a wealthy 4th cousin.  Eventually he inherited the large manor house outside of Chawton. He gave the "comfortable cottage"to his mother, Jane and Cassandra to live in.  This home in Chawton was the last one she lived in before her death and the home where she revised her manuscripts for Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.  It was in this home that she wrote Mansfield Park, Emma and Persuasion.  Her home is now a museum filled with items from the Austen family and information about Jane and her family and friends.  I can now begin to understand where some of the ideas for her characters and their struggles originated.

Quilt that Jane made with her sister and mother from scraps from their dresses.

Sheep grazing near the manor house and church.

Lovely old graveyard at the church by the manor house.

Jane's brother's manor house and church that the Austen's attended.

Jane Austen's comfortable cottage.