Jane Austen and Hampshire: Attractions and Locations

Jane was born on the 16th December 1775 in the village of Steventon in North Hampshire where her father was the vicar of the small 12th century church. Steventon Rectory is where Jane spent the first 25 years of her life.

In 1805, Jane’s father sadly passed away and Jane, her mother and sister Cassandra moved to Southampton. Jane found living in a city challenging after growing up in the countryside but she often spent time walking along Southampton city walls and taking excursions to Netley Abbey and the River Itchen.

It’s also believed that whilst Jane was living in Southampton she travelled up Beaulieu River, passing Buckler’s Hard and Beaulieu Abbey in the now New Forest National Park and also danced in Southampton’s Dolphin Hotel.

Jane often travelled to Portsmouth to visit her brothers, Francis and Charles, who were stationed there with the Royal Navy.

From 1809 until 1817 Jane lived in the beautiful village of Chawton near Alton where Jane's brother owned Chawton House. Jane's brother offered Jane, Cassandra and their mother a house in Chawton Village which is now known as Jane Austen's House. Back in the countryside Jane turned again to revising previous drafts of Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice and Northanger Abbey and creating Mansfield Park, Emma, and Persuasion.

Discover Jane Austen's Chawton

In 1817 Jane became ill and moved to a house in College Street, Winchester with her sister to be closer to her doctor. Sadly after a couple of weeks at the age of 41, she passed away on the 18th July 1817.

A few days later she was laid to rest in Winchester Cathedral. Today you can visit her grave inside the Cathedral, the family home in Chawton, along with many of the places in Hampshire which she grew to love and that inspired her writing.

Find out more about Jane Austen's Winchester connections.

Discover Jane Austen's Winchester