Kirsten and Jörg in Jane Austen’s World

During Regency Week, I happened to meet Kirsten and Jörg, whose You Tube channel I really enjoy watching. Like myself, Kirsten and Jörg are true Anglophiles, and the couple feature travel around Britain in their beautiful cinematographic videos and visit various interesting and beautiful places, exploring historic houses, gardens, antiques and other things quintessentially British. I loved their beautiful footage of Alton and Chawton and especially the Regency picnic that I participated in too, you might just be able to spot yours truly in the video! 😉

Regency Week Has Kicked Off in Alton

This week, the Regency Week in Alton is in full swing after a long break of three years. It's been delightful to be able to attend events like this and meet likeminded people here in Hampshire, not far from my home. 

On Saturday, I attended the Regency market in Alton, browsed the various stalls and enjoyed the lively atmosphere and catching up with other Austenites there. 

                                    The best way to get into Regency mood! 

Local militia - I think Lydia Bennet would approve.

Freddie aka Captain Wentworth looking dashing in his uniform. Freddie (who belongs to Jenny Colquhoun) is a familiar furry face from the Bath festival parade. 

                                Sophie (Laughing with Lizzie) and Abigail Rose. 

Velocipedes were fun to see, although strictly speaking, they aren't Regency, as they hadn't been invented until the 1860s. 

I always feel proud walking past Miss Jane Austen (disputably) near Henry Austen's bank building in Alton.  

On Sunday, I visited Jane Austen's House, had a look at the new exhibition and attended a fascinating talk on Martha Lloyd's Household Book by director Lizzie Dunford (in lieu of food historian Julienne Gehrer). I then joined the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation Parade for Literacy to Chawton House, lead by Caroline Knight, a great-niece of Jane Austen's, who grew up in Chawton House and now runs the foundation. It was lovely to see so many familiar faces back in Chawton and some new as well. 

Caroline lead us to the barn at Chawton House for a picnic in aid of the foundation, in support of literacy projects for the children of Ukraine. 

Despite predicted rain, we had fine weather and enjoyed the picnic outside, catching up on the last three years and hearing readings. The finalists of the foundation's writing competition were also announced, and the winning story was read by Susannah Harker (Jane Bennet - Pride and Prejudice 1995) who performed at the previous picnic as well. 

                                                        Susannah Harker 

                                The lovely Kirsten from "Kirsten and Joerg". 

Geoffrey Hall and Julia Grantham (author of Mr Darcy's Guide to Pemberley) with attendees from Tennessee, USA. 

What a memorable weekend!