Jane Austen's last home a museum
By Sarah Brubaker
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
WHERE: Chawton Cottage, Jane Austen's house in Chawton Village, southwest of London, is where the author spent her final years and wrote on a very famous and rather small writing table.
IN THE COTTAGE: The house is comfortable, but not small. There are the amber crosses that Charles Austen, Jane's seafaring brother, gave to her and her sister, Cassandra. On the door leading to the staircase, a sign warns that it squeaks, and says Jane liked it that way so she could hide her manuscripts if she heard someone coming. Jane's writing table is there — tiny, well-loved and well-used.
The BBC has loaned the museum costumes from a recent production of "Sense and Sensibility," which are placed around the house, a nice addition.
IF YOU GO: Chawton Village is an easy day trip from London, or there are several bed and breakfasts nearby that you can look into at www.chawton.info.
Jane Austen's House Museum, Chawton, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1SD, www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk. Admission is $12.
From London, take a train south to Alton (about one hour), then the X64 bus to Alton Butts, then walk about two miles into Chawton Village. Roundtrip train tickets cost about $31 per person.
WHERE TO EAT: Greyfriar's Pub and Cassandra's Tea Cup are both across the street from the museum. Greyfriar's serves food from noon to 2 p.m. and 7 to 9:30 p.m.; Cassandra's Tea Cup is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WHAT ELSE TO DO: Check out Chawton Library, which is the estate that Jane's brother Edward inherited; it's about a three-minute walk from the museum. Jane's sister and mother are buried in the quaint churchyard. Chawton is a beautiful quiet village with thatched houses and is well worth a day trip out of the city.
If you can't travel to the U.K. anytime soon, let Jane Austen take you there without leaving home:
Movies: The A&E version of "Pride and Prejudice" may be six hours long, but it stays very close to the book, and how can you pass up Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy? Sigh ...
Or "Persuasion," starring Ciran Hinds as Capt. Wentworth in a charming rendition of Jane's last book.
Prefer to read? Try "Sense and Sensibility," "Mansfield Park" or "Emma."
