New walking and cycling trails taking in some of Hampshire’s ‘forgotten’ Jane Austen sites have been launched to mark the 250th birthday of the world-famous author.
As part of year-long celebrations of Hampshire-born Austen’s anniversary milestone, the new permanent trails offer a chance for visitors to follow in the footsteps of Jane Austen, her friends and family.
Showcasing the landscapes and landmarks that influenced her early years, the Overton Jane Austen Trails – spanning the villages of Overton, Ashe and Deane – aim to spotlight some of the less well-known sites connected to the writer.
Born in 1775 and brought up in the neighbouring village of Steventon, she spent the first 25 years of her life in this quiet corner of rural Hampshire.
During that time Overton was a bustling centre, known for its sheep market, merchants, traders, coaching inns, the local post office and the mail coaches that carried her letters from Steventon, all of which were postmarked Overton.
As well as visiting the village, she strolled the footpaths, bridleways and countryside around the area, while other family connections include her brother, James, becoming curate at St Mary’s Church in 1790. He lived in Overton Vicarage and then Court House, overlooking the village, which still exists today.
The new trails provide more details about her early life in Hampshire, which was not only her birthplace, and where she wrote all her novels, but also provided inspiration for much of her writing. It is where here where ideas about society, love, and family began to take shape.
Today Overton Community Centre stands on the site of the 18th century New Inn, which was also the Post Office in Austen’s time, but other landmarks remain, including historic coaching inn The White Hart. It was a stopping off point for the twice-daily mail coach between London and Exeter.
Along with the walking tours, there is also a 12-mile circular cycling route, which takes in the same locations as the Overton to Steventon walk and follows roads and bridleways.
The self-guided trails are supported by an information board at Overton Community Centre as well as printed leaflets available from Overton Parish Office, shops and cafes in the village. They are also available online at https://overtonparishcouncil.gov.uk/overton-jane-austen-trails/
Overton is served by South Western Railway services on the London Waterloo to Exeter line.
For more about Jane Austen 250 events across Hampshire, see www.visit-hampshire.co.uk/whats-on/jane-austens-250
All tourist information for Hampshire can be found at www.visit-hampshire.co.uk
Photo, above: Richard Gearey
