Reading (town) at the time of Jane Austen

Did you know that Reading had a connection to Jane Austen? I had to change the title in case readers mistook "Reading" for the verb rather than the name of the town! In case you didn't know, the town of Reading is pronounced as "re-ding" rather than "reading". 

You may have read my blog about Abbey School from my first visit to Reading where I wrote about Jane's school experience here. From 1785-1786, for a short duration of 18 months, Jane Austen went to school in Reading, and her brief stint at school took place in the Abbey Gateway. 

The Abbey Gateway 

The Abbey Gateway is the former entrance into Reading Abbey, which was one of the largest, most significant monasteries in Europe in medieval times but now stands in ruins. 

Georgian buildings near the Abbey ruins. 

The Abbey ruins. 

The gateway was actually built in the medieval times to divide the monk's living quarters from the more public areas of the abbey, but the current building dates back to Tudor times. Jane is the most famous alumnus from this school, and I believe that Jane's experience of living so close to a gothic abbey sparked her imagination in her future writing, Northanger Abbey in particular. 

Gothic detail from the Gateway.

I visited the Abbey Gateway for a children's event with my children back in 2018, and it was so interesting to see the interiors of the Gateway where Jane's classroom was located. This year, marking Jane Austen 250, you can visit the classroom on certain days and see for yourself where Jane Austen went to school. 

Forbury Gardens with the Victorian Schoolhouse in the middle next to the Abbey ruins. Reading Gaol was behind the schoolhouse. 

The gateway is located opposite Forbury Gardens, which had been used as a "forbury" (i.e. borough in front) or an open land between the abbey and the town, and this open land was used for fairs for centuries, including when Jane Austen was here. The gardens now offer a gorgeous respite from the urban areas and a lovely place to stroll around. 

Between the abbey and the gardens, there is a Victorian building, Reading Gaol. This is where Oscar Wilde was famously imprisoned 1895-1897 for homosexual offences and where he wrote the poem, "Reading Gaol". 

St Laurence's Church. 

Jane would also have been familiar with St Laurence's Church, which was situated on the same road, past Forbury Gardens. This church was also built in the Norman times but has been rebuilt in the 15th and 19th Centuries. St Laurence's Church was one of the original three churches serving the Reading borough from the medieval times, but had a larger significance due to its close location to the abbey, which stimulated trade in the area. 

Reading marketplace. 

Reading marketplace in front of the church was established by the abbey monks and was used for markets for hundreds of years and, as you can see, is still used today. 

The Simeon monument. 

Jane Austen would have been familiar with this marketplace, but she wouldn't have seen the Simeon monument in the middle of the marketplace, which was built a couple of decades later, in 1804. This monument was funded by Edward Simeon, director of the Bank of England, and created by none other than Sir John Soane, who designed the stunning Bank of England building in London. 

George Hotel on the left. 

The stunning George Hotel on King's Street always catches my eye when I visit Reading. George Hotel was one of the busiest coaching inns between London and the West Country during Georgian times, and a few decades later Charles Dickens stayed here during his public reading tours. Reading in Reading, what a delightful thought indeed!

Are you aware of any other buildings in Reading that might have been there during Jane Austen's times? Do share in the comments if you know more!

Further reading in my blog: 

My first peek of the Abbey Gateway: https://austenised.blogspot.com/2010/08/peek-of-abbey-school.html

My visit to the Gateway and Jane Austen's classroom: https://austenised.blogspot.com/2018/06/inside-jane-austens-school.html

My visit to Reading Abbey: https://austenised.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-abbey-that-sparked-young-jane.html

To visit the Abbey Gateway, click here: https://www.visit-reading.com/whats-on/jane-austen-in-reading/visit-jane-austens-schoolroom

My Thoughts on the Long-awaited "Miss Austen"

Finally the long-awaited adaptation of Gill Hornby's "Miss Austen" is out! The new mini-series aired on BBC this week, and many Janeites have been glued to the screens, excited to see Jane and her sister Cassandra come to life in this biopic. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching this adaptation and thought I would share my thoughts on the series, whilst it is still fresh in my mind. 

 Young Cassandra Austen played by Synnove Carlsen. 

You might remember my earlier post where I shared my trip to Kintbury after reading "Miss Austen" by Hornby.  It was lovely to walk around the quaint village where Cassandra Austen stayed with the Fowle family at their home, Kintbury Rectory, where Hornby now lives and where she was inspired to write the novel. 

As I mentioned, the novel explores Cassandra's connection to Kintbury but also her possible motives for destroying a bulk of Jane's letters - a huge loss to us Austen historians. 

Mature Cassandra in front of Chawton Cottage played by Keeley Hawes.

I've recently been quite disappointed by the quality of many of the Austen adaptations, which haven't followed the period style either in manners, fashions or historical detail. The recent Netflix version of Persuasion certainly divided opinions, and I  haven't able to watch it again after the first time, as I found it too cringey. Becoming Jane, the Austen biopic with Anne Hathaway, was another one that took too many liberties to my liking. Therefore I was delighted to see this story being produced in a more realistic style more true to historical detail (albeit a work of fiction!). 

Jane and Cassandra 

It's wonderful to see Cassandra come into life in this biopic and to see the depth of her character and the closeness of the sisters' relationship more than in previous films. 

Mature Cassandra (Keeley Hawes)

Keeley Hawes, who I am partial to, portrays the mature Cassandra Austen beautifully with so much emotion. 

Jane (Patsy Ferran)

Similarly, the casting of Jane Austen as Patsy Ferran (above) is spot on - this is how I imagine Jane - petite and brown-eyed, feisty, playful and witty. 

Patsy captures Jane's lively personality beautifully and the gradual decline in her mood and health as the story progresses (yet again, the historical detail!). 

Moving depiction of Jane's depression in Bath. 

The casting of most of the other characters is excellent. Mary Austen comes to life brilliantly as the irritable, undiplomatic Mary Austen (Liv Hill/Jessica Hynes), and the Austen brothers are excellent choices as well. 

Hubert Burton as Henry Austen 

I enjoyed watching the part where Jane is proposed by the socially awkward Harris Bigg-Wither, whose offer of marriage Jane accepted but turned down overnight - his personality is wonderfully portrayed here. 

Tom Glenister as the painfully shy Harris Bigg-Wither. 

I was somewhat disappointed by Phyllis Logan's rendition of Mrs Austen, however, who seems more like Mrs Hughes than Mrs Austen - the historical Mrs Austen comes across as rather a big personality (as matriarch of the family) and as someone with dramatic, hypochondriac tendencies. 

Mrs Austen (Phyllis Logan) and Mr Austen (Kevin McNally). 

Tom Fowle (Calam Lynch), Cassandra's fiancee, reminds me of Willoughby (played by Greg Wise)!

Tom Fowle (Calam Lynch)

What disturbed me slightly about this story is the choice to portray Henry Hobday (Max Irons) as Cassandra's love interest in Sidmouth. 

Max Irons as Henry Hobday

I have always imagined Sidmouth to have been the place where Jane allegedly met the love of her life, and this storyline is entirely fictional and results in further grief for Cassandra Austen. 

Miss Austen is essentially a story about grief, which really comes through in this adaptation. 

Cassandra by Jane's deathbed. 

The series is beautifully shot and there are many cinematographically stunning shots in carefully designed sets and locations. The candlelight hue in most of the indoor scenes seems realistic, as rooms would have been darker in Jane Austen's times. 

The story highlights the lack of choices that unmarried women faced in the early 19th Century and how they were at the mercy of their husbands and brothers - and this is the story of Jane Austen, too. As an Austenite, I loved seeing this story come to life, but I am unsure of how a non-connoisseur would receive this series - would it captivate them or would they get bored? Knowing the background and recognising all the characters certainly helps. Do let me know what you think in the comments. 

I had the pleasure of watching a speech by Gill Hornby at the Regency Picnic in Chawton in 2023, where Gill talked about her upcoming novel about Jane's Niece, Fanny Knatchbull. I look forward to reading her next novel. 

Gill Hornby in at the Regency Picnic in Chawton (2023). 

Do have a look at my photos from Kintbury here: 

Austenised: Following "Miss Austen's" Footsteps Through Historic Kintbury

Shopping where Jane shopped for books!

View of College Street from P & G Wells bookshop with Jane's last home in the background. 

You may well have walked past Jane Austen's last home on College Street, Winchester, right behind the walls of Winchester Cathedral. In May, 1817, Jane came to Winchester to be under the care of Mr Lyford, as the Alton Apothecary, William Curtis, had not been able to revive her health. Sadly, there was not much Mr Lyford could do, and Jane passed away two months later. 

                                                        Jane's last home at 8, College Street. 

There is another building on College Street, which the Austen family were familiar with: the P & G Wells bookshop. The bookshop is one of my children's favourite shops, as it has a wonderful chilren's section upstairs and such a lovely, oldy-worldy ambience. 

Did you know that P & G Wells bookshop claims to be Britain's oldest bookshop? Whilst the shop is named after Joseph Wells, who ran the bookshop from 1866, the shop was originally opened by 'gentleman bookseller', John Burdon, as early as 1789. 

The Austen family held an account at Burdon's, and on 25th November, 1798, Jane wrote to Cassandra from Steventon: "We have got Boswell's 'Tour of the Hebrides', and are to have his 'Life of Johnson'; and, as some money will yet remain in Burdon's hands, it will be laid out in the purchase of Cowper's Works". We know that Cowper was Jane's favourite poet, and Jane greatly admired Samuel Johnson, so perhaps she acquired some of her very favourite books from this bookshop at College Street. 

There were some lovely displays, such as this shelf dedicated to Jane Austen. 

I spotted another favourite of mine, William Blake, whose "Songs of Innocence" was published in the same year as the shop was opened! 

I heartily recommend visiting this atmospheric, classic bookshop when you next visit Winchester. 

References: 

Le Faye, Deirdre. (2011) Jane Austen's Letters. Fourth Edition. OUP.

My visit to Winchester and Jane's last home: https://austenised.blogspot.com/2010/08/following-janes-last-journey.html

About William Curtis, the Alton Apothecary: https://austenised.blogspot.com/2017/06/jane-austen-and-her-alton-apothy.html

"We should all walk with (Harriet Benn) to drink tea at Faringdon" - A Walk Around Jane Austen's Farringdon

Farringdon is a quaint village a mile from Chawton with several thatched cottages, which were around at the time of Jane Austen. I took a walk around Farringdon back in early September and am taking you along, strolling the village roads so familiar to Jane Austen.

The Austens often visited their close friends, the Benn family, in Farringdon.

Reverend John Benn held the living of All Saints Church at Farringdon from 1797 to 1857. Interestingly, the famous naturalist, Gilbert White, was also curate of this church for some time before John Benn. 

All Saints Church

The Farringdon Yew in front of the church, which is about 3000 years old and thought to be amongst the 10 oldest trees in England. 

John Benn was married to Elizabeth Benn, and they appear to have had a large family. Jane Austen wrote to her niece, Fanny Knight, in 1817, lamenting the fate of her niece, Anna, who was pregnant again: "Poor Animal, she will be worn out before she is thirty. - I am very sorry for her...I am quite tired of so many Children.-Mrs Benn has a 13th". 

I am not sure which house the Benns lived in, but I saw this large house behind the church and I assumed that it may have been the Rectory. Do let me know if you know more! 

The Austens and the Benns often visited each other, and on the 28th May, 1811, Jane writes to Cassandra about John Benn's daughter, Harriet: "Harriet Benn sleeps at the Great House to-night and spends to-morrow with us; and the plan is that we should all walk with her to drink tea at Faringdon".

Jane may have walked across the fields to get to Farringdon. 

On the 31st May, Jane writes: "Harriot and Eliz. dined here yesterday, & we walked back with them to Tea; - not my Mother - she has a cold which affects her in the usual way". It is interesting to spot Jane Austen vary her spelling of the name of Harriet in two subsequent letters.

A typical house in Farringdon is white-washed and timber-framed. 

You may remember my blog about the impoverished spinster, Miss Benn, who lived in the the thatched cottage close to Jane Austen's home in Chawton? Mary Benn was the younger, unmarried sister of John Benn, who is believed to have been an inspiration for the character of Miss Bates. Jane Austen often wrote about her in her letters and felt sorry for her reduced circumstances, having to live in a damp, dilapidated home at the mercy of well-wishing friends and relatives. Jane and Cassandra often invited her to Chawton cottage and gave her clothes as presents. She was also the first person besides the Austen family to listen to Jane Austen read Pride and Prejudice in 1813, and according to Jane, she was "amused" and "does seem to admire Elizabeth". 

I hope you have enjoyed my walk around Upper and Lower Farringdon - I recommend walking from Chawton to Farringdon on a lovely day and taking in the quaint, historic villages and lush, green fields on the way.  

Click here for a link to a walking tour from Chawton to Farringdon: https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryside/walking/chawtontofarringdon

References: 

https://austenised.blogspot.com/2012/10/miss-benn-inspiration-for-miss-bates.html

Le Faye, Deirdre. (2011) Jane Austen's Letters. Fourth Edition. OUP.

Celebrating the Launch of the Overton Jane Austen Trails

This weekend saw the launch of the Overton Jane Austen Trails. Overton is a village close to Steventon where Jane Austen often went shopping and to visit her brother, James, who was Curate at St Mary's Church - you may have read my blog post about Overton from a few years ago and seen the buildings with connections to Jane Austen. 

I was excited to learn that there would be trails dedicated to Jane Austen's Overton;  it is so lovely to be able to walk in the footsteps of Jane Austen in these lovely, idyllic localities around the home of her childhood and youth, and a trail is always a great help! 

The launch weekend has included a variety of events, such as guided walks, talks, exhibitions, fairs and performances. Today, I attended the unveiling of the Overton Jane Austen Trails Information Board in front of the community hall and the library, right at the heart of Overton. 

The Board was unveiled by the Deputy Mayor of Basingstoke, Cllr Colin Phillimore, who spoke about his love for the local area and its connection to Jane Austen. 

The Community Centre was buzzing with stalls, a very popular cafe serving Regency style treats and a stage set up for performances and talks. 

I met the talented artist behind the gorgeous map, Jo South, who had various art prints featuring the local area on display. You can access her work on her website and on her Facebook page where you can see short videos of how she created the map and also photos of the trail markers being set up by volunteers at various locations. 

I was delighted to notice several shop windows decked up to commemorate the occasion and I actually purchased some Regency accessories at one of the shops! 

I also had a delicious meal at the White Hart, which was a coaching inn during Jane Austen's times. Coaches would depart for London from here. 

If you are interested in doing a trail, there are three trails to choose from:  

• a 2 1/2 miles circular walking trail
• a 9 mile waymarked walking trail with shorter options 
• a 12 mile cycle trail

I cannot wait to do one of these trails and share with you how I get on! 

Click here for further information on the trails: www.overtonjaneaustentrails.org.