Hampshire will be staging a year-long series of events across the county in 2017, to celebrate the creativity and talent of its most famous daughter, Jane Austen – who died 200 years ago on July 18, 1817.
Hampshire was Jane Austen’s birthplace, as well as place where she was laid to rest. It was also filled with the people, landscape and the society which provided so much of the inspiration for her classic novels.
Full details of events across the whole of Hampshire to mark the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death can now be found at www.janeausten200.co.uk. Some of the highlights include…
Rain Jane, Winchester
November 2016, to August 2017
A new trail of 12 Jane Austen quotes appearing only in the raid in 39 locations across Winchester city centre. Pick up a leaflet, an umbrella, and take a stroll in the footsteps of Jane.
http://janeausten200.co.uk/event/rain-jane-0
Free
The Jane Austen Story, Winchester Cathedral
November 11 2016, to December 31 2017
A permanent exhibition situated beside her grave in the north nave aisle of Winchester Cathedral. Read about Jane’s birth and childhood in Steventon, the family’s move to Bath, her return to Hampshire, adult life and her writing in Chawton and the final few weeks of her life and resting place in Winchester.
http://janeausten200.co.uk/event/jane-austen-story
£7.95 adult annual pass, £5.95 concessions annual pass.
[A Jane Austen Tour and Tea is also available at the Cathedral each month. Price £12.50. (More details http://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/).]
Jane Austen Big Picnics, Winchester Cathedral & Basing House
May to August 2017
Jane Austen Big Picnics will be held at Winchester Cathedral and Basing House, offering the opportunity to see some performances, try some Regency food and learn more about Jane Austen. Hampshire Cultural Trust is producing Jane Austen Big Picnic packs, so if you can’t make any of the events, you can organise a Big Picnic in your area or just take friends and family out for an Austen treat.
Mysterious Miss Austen, The Gallery, Winchester Discovery Centre
May 13 to July 25, 2017
This showpiece exhibition will feature first editions of her work, personal letters and portraits from the National Portrait Gallery and unseen collections. In addition, Jane’s pelisse coat is the only garment in the world with provenance that can be traced back to Jane Austen. This is the first time these important collections will ever have been displayed together.
http://janeausten200.co.uk/event/jane-austen-200-mysterious-miss-austen
Free
Chawton Open Gardens, Chawton
June 10 & 11, 2017
Take a walk in the footsteps of Jane Austen as her beloved village and home, Chawton in Hampshire, opens its gardens. The grounds of both Chawton House Library and Jane Austen’s House Museum will open, as well as many other charming gardens around the village. Visitors to this part of the county will also be able to take a walk from Chawton to Farringdon – a walk that Jane is certain to have taken on a regular basis.
http://janeausten200.co.uk/event/chawton-open-gardens-2017
Price TBC
Jane Austen Regency Week, Alton and Chawton
June 17 to 25, 2017
A week of Regency walks, talks, music, food and dance. An annual event, with far greater significance in the 200th anniversary year.
http://janeausten200.co.uk/event/jane-austen-regency-week
Prices vary per event.
Sitting with Jane Book Bench Trail, Basingstoke
June 17 to August 31, 2017
An inspired sculpture trail. The 25 sculptures are all benches, shaped like an open book, and each is designed and painted by a professional artist in a style inspired by Jane Austen’s life and times in Basingstoke, Steventon and the surrounding area. The trail and the associated app will give the opportunity to explore (and sit in) places and landscapes that were important influences on Jane’s life and work – often undiscovered by visitors. Jane was born in Steventon, and Basingstoke was her local town for more than half her life, this trail will help to reconnect visitors with where she grew up and began her writing career.
http://janeausten200.co.uk/event/sitting-jane-bookbench-public-art-trail
Free
Jane Austen Commemorative Service, Winchester Cathedral
July 18, 2017
http://janeausten200.co.uk/event/special-anniversary-service-winchester-cathedral
Free (book in advance)
Jane Austen’s House Museum Midsummer Evening Opening, Chawton
June 20, 2017
Join us for an evening opening and maybe even get to visit parts of the Museum not usually open to the public. Wander around the garden with our gardener or simply spend time in the house where Jane wrote on a midsummer evening. This event is a part of Regency Week.
http://janeausten200.co.uk/event/jane-austens-house-museum-midsummer-evening-opening
Usual admission prices apply.
For further information about Hampshire, visit http://www.visit-hampshire.co.uk