Here in the quiet and picturesque village
of Chawton, Hampshire lived Jane Austen, the highly celebrated novelist. This modest
cottage was her home in the latter part of her life. Today we'll take you inside and
see the famous writing desk where she wrote her remarkable novels and find out more
about her fascinating life in Chawton. Chawton, Hampshire lies 16 miles east of
Winchester and 46 miles west of central London in what's been fondly named Jane Austen country.
Thatched cottages, a couple of pubs, a cafe and a small car park are positioned around the modest
unassuming cottage built in the 17th century. Jane's brother Edward who we'll learn more about
later provided this home on his estate following a few years of unsettled movements from Bath
and then Southampton. Edward had inherited Chawton House and estate with a separate
video touring that beautiful property, just a quarter of a mile away from Jane's home. Learn about how Edward became a member of the
Knight family and heir to this incredible estate. A home from home for Jane and where she would
have gathered great inspiration for her novels. Jane was 33 by the time the family moved in on
the 7th of July 1809, along with Martha Lloyd. Let's head inside and find out more. Martha
Lloyd had been a close and trusted friend of Jane and the family for many years, in fact, she'd
lived with Jane, her sister Cassandra and Jane's mother ever since Jane's father died, closely
followed by Martha's mother in bath in 1806. Pulling their resources had allowed them to obtain
better accommodation and standard of living. We enter the house to the side and walk into the
courtyard. The washing is hanging out to dry, one of the many chores that Cassandra and Martha
would have undertaken to allow Jane time to write. Jane was very secretive about her writing and
only the closest to her would have been aware. We'll come back to the courtyard later in
the tour but following the one-way system, we passed through the garden. No real
records exist as to its layout in 1809 but it would have been a traditional country
cottage garden bigger than today with an orchard and a vegetable patch for Jane's
mother to tend. Herb borders used for medical and culinary purposes run around
the courtyard and into the main garden. Visiting the gardens when we're not in a pandemic
is free and you can picnic here and admire the flora. Look out for the museum cat who can be
seen wandering around and doesn't mind a stroke. The kitchen was where all the food was prepared
for the house and the Austen's employed a cook. That being said they would be no strangers to
the kitchen and able to fend for themselves. Over the years Martha Lloyd collected
recipes for food and household remedies, you can see some of these strewn on the table.
Take a moment to read them as they give you a good insight into the type of food being
enjoyed by the family. Pickling was popular and essential for preserving foods so these
are included along with various cake recipes. Throughout the house are period
costumes some of which have been used in TV and movie drama
adaptations of the novels. The museum has a copy of the experienced housekeeper
published in 1769 Martha probably took inspiration from this. It has 900 recipes including festive
treats like plum pudding and mincemeat pies. Welcome to the drawing-room, a place
of multiple uses throughout the day. The door we just came in was not here in Jane's
time, in addition, the window facing out to the road was bricked up by Edward just before the
family moved in to give them more privacy. A bit of a shame really as it is quite unsightly.
A mahogany bureau and bookcase belonging to her father Reverend George Austen now stands
where the window once was. This would have been used at the Steventon rectory where they
lived earlier in her life and he was rector. A square mahogany piano sits in
the corner similar to the one the family-owned and Jane practised
on in the mornings before breakfast. After a possible stroll into Alton to visit shops
or see friends they might sew and mend things, maybe write a letter. After dinner conversation,
card games and tea with the order of the day and later, if guests arrived the furniture might be
pushed back for informal dancing or parlour games. Note the historic wallpaper. Fragments of the
original wallpaper design were found around the removed window behind the bureau and the
museum was able to commission a near match to decorate the room with you'll see more of this as
we move through the rooms, it's quite remarkable. A portrait of young Edward or neddy as he was
affectionately known hangs above the piano. He was 12 years old when he met the rich distant
cousins of his father Thomas and Elizabeth Knight, fell for the little boy having
no heirs of their own they adopted Edward. Passing into the vestibule we are standing
where the original entrance to the house would have been. The window would have been the
door. The fireplace was a later addition. You can explore the family tree along with a very
special first edition copy of Mansfield Park. Jane and the family took their meals in this
room, mostly prepared in the kitchen and brought through but things like tea and toast could
be prepared on the hob grate in the fireplace. Having practised the piano, Jane would make
the breakfast, this was one of her duties along with looking after the
stores of tea, sugar and wine. She held the key to the tea cupboard an expensive
commodity that was prone to theft from servants. Behind me is Jane's writing desk
and it's from here that she wrote all six of her novels not necessarily in
this house but from this writing table. Her writing was a secret from servants
and visitors outside the family, scribbling on small sheets of paper might have
allowed her to easily hide what she was working on if she was disturbed. Nevertheless, it's such
a small fragile table it could not have been easy. This desk is of such historical importance
it's quite remarkable that it survives today. Seated by the window to write in the light,
she had a good view of what was going on in the village. She would often make
comments about it in her letters. Climbing the squeaky stairs we get views of
the courtyard and then head up to the upper floors of the house. The Austen room is thought to
have been Mrs Austen's bedroom. It's the largest room in the house so it fitting that the most
senior member of the family would use this room. Today it shows some of Austen's
history through portraits and artefacts associated with the family. In the corner
are some of the games they liked to play including Jane's cup and ball which
somehow I missed filming up close. An oil painting of Edward Cooper hangs on the far
wall, he was Jane's cousin on her mother's side, not someone Jane really enjoyed the company
of. It's speculated that his character was the inspiration for Mr Collins in Pride
and Prejudice. There are three miniature portraits of two Digweed brothers William James
and his wife Susan. Living in Steventon James in particular was a close friend of Jane and the two
families would meet for dinner and social events. A portrait of her eldest brother's son, James
Edward Austen Lee. He wrote a memoir of Jane Austen published in 1869 bringing together many
papers, materials and memories from the ageing Austen family, alive during Jane's life. With
the popularity of her novels rising this book would heighten interest in Jane Austen and her
books, giving a new perspective to the public. You can also see another fine example of the original
wallpaper to the recreation pattern in this room. This is Jane's bedroom laid out as
it might have been during her life. From this upstairs room, Jane
could look out over the courtyard. Cassandra was fond of drawing and this likeness
portrait of Jane is the only authenticated one although it's generally thought to be a
poor likeness. The original portrait was purchased by The National Portrait gallery
in 1948, this is a copy of that drawing. The silk ball gown on the bed was worn by
Anne Hathaway in the 2007 film Becoming Jane. The dressing room might have been another
bedroom for visitors or servants. Today, artefacts pertaining to sewing and dressing are
on display here. This dress coat is an exact replica of an original held by Hampshire county
council, thought to have belonged to Jane. Jane gave this pretty card needle case to her niece
Louisa Austen Knight in the early 19th century. You can still see the original inscription
with aunt Jane's love in her own handwriting. This Chinese work table with
room for silks, lace and needles and a work-basket beneath is thought
to have belonged to her or the family. The Admiral room, another bedroom showcases naval
artefacts from the two successful mariner brothers of Jane. Francis and Charles both joined the
Royal Navy at 12 and were soon on active service. It's likely this close connection
to the navy influenced her writing as both Mansfield Park and Persuasion
have strong maritime themes. This wooden letterbox for carrying
pens and ink is thought to have been carved by Francis Austen for his brother Henry. This Burmese bell was presented to Charles and
inscribed referencing the storming of Rangoon. It has been in the house since 1985
and weighs so much it took five sailors to carry it up the stairs. As part of the
bicentenary commemorations of Jane's death. This admiral's quilt or coverlet was hand-stitched
by 100 people sewing brightly coloured fabrics and offcuts, a similar technique to the original
Austen quilt that hangs in the next room. This patchwork quilt or coverlet was
made by Mrs Austen, Cassandra and Jane. It's one of the earliest items in the
museum collection and contains at least 64 different fabrics. It must have been a labour
of love. On the 31st of May 1811 Jane wrote to her sister Cassandra "have you remembered to collect
pieces for the patchwork we are at a standstill". Two topaz crosses were given to Cassandra and
Jane from their brother Charles, paid for with prize money he earned in the royal navy. The
gold ring, set in turquoise was worn by Jane and kept by her sister on her death, passing down
the family. As was this beautiful beaded bracelet. Letters proving the provenance
of the ring, hang on the wall. Another museum prized possession is Jane's muslin
shawl, embroidered with satin stitch crosses. Jane learnt to sew in her childhood
and was extremely skilled at it. Her shawl is a fine example
of this. In her letters, she mentions being the neatest worker of a
group making shirts for one of her brothers. Next to it is a red woollen riding jacket that apparently the children
used for dressing up games. At the end of the corridor is a
small section on Jane's legacy showing some of the items associated
with the many adaptations of her novels. Heading back downstairs into the reading room
you will find a few of the letters Jane wrote to her sister. Not many remain as Cassandra burnt
most following Jane's death at just 41. There are a couple more first editions and a recently
printed copy of her unfinished work Sanditon. A small utility room is attached to
this room and the outside courtyard. Walking back into the courtyard we cross to the
bakehouse. The kitchen we visited at the beginning was attached to the house but washing, baking and
pig salting was done in this room. The baking oven was heated up with coals raked over and then pies
and bread placed inside with the oven door closed The copper was used for washing the clothes,
a fire underneath heated the water in a copper pan. Water could also be boiled here to scold
a slaughtered pig and the skin removed before salting. The door just out of sight to the
right leads to some steps down to the cellars. In the shed next to the gift and ticket
shop is a donkey cart purchased by Edward for Jane's mother. Jane used it often to
get about, shopping and visiting friends. Cheaper than a larger carriage it
lacked a roof so they often got soaked! Jane would leave Chawton for the last time on
the 24th of May 1817 desperately ill heading to Winchester for treatment. To find out
more about her untimely end in Winchester, along with her early life in Steventon and years
spent in bath and Southampton watch our video, Jane Austen Walking in her footsteps. There's a
link at the end. We hope you enjoyed our tour of this fascinating home. We have more Jane Austen on
our channel so be sure to check out our playlists, maybe give us a like. Let us know
your thoughts on Jane via the comments and join us by subscribing. Until the next
time thanks for watching the Memoryseekers.
