Chawton House: home to early women’s writing

‘I went up to the Great House between 3 & 4, & dawdled away an hour very comfortably.’ Jane Austen, 1814

Walk in Jane Austen’s footsteps as you visit the ‘Great House’ owned by her brother Edward where she spent much of her time. Plan your visit

‘Edward is very well and enjoys himself as well as any Hampshire born Austen can desire. – He talks of making a new Garden…’ Jane Austen, 1813

Explore the beautiful landscaped gardens More about the gardens

‘You know how interesting the purchase of a sponge-cake is to me’ Jane Austen, 1815

Enjoy a slice of homemade cake or a light lunch in the Old Kitchen Tearoom without paying an admission fee. Menu

‘We four sweet Brothers & Sisters dine today at the Great House. Is not that quite natural?’ Jane Austen, 1815

See the table where Jane Austen dined with her family, and view her brother’s suit, travel journal and portrait. Plan your visit

‘Why not seize the pleasure at once? -- How often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparation!’ Jane Austen, 1814

Enjoy a relaxed afternoon exploring the corridors of the Elizabethan manor house. Plan your visit

‘When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library’ Jane Austen, 1813

Breathe in the leather bound books in the library and hear tales from the fascinating collection of early women's writing More about the collection

What’s on

More events

Monday 4th March 2019 to Monday 30th December 2019

Display: Writing Women's Rights

Monday 4th March 2019 to Monday 30th December 2019

Exhibition: Jane Austen's Reading

Thursday 21st November 2019 to Monday 30th December 2019

Christmas at Chawton House

Saturday 14th December 2019

Workshop: Christmas Table Centrepieces

New for 2019, the Jane Austen Garden Trail is a unique walking route around the Chawton grounds.

Help us to keep the house, grounds and library going today. Donate now

North American Friends can donate here.

The ‘Reading with Austen’ website.

This site digitally recreates of the Library of Godmersham Park, as Jane Austen would have seen it. Click here to explore the Library, and here to read the blog.

Latest news

More news

12th December 2019

A very merry Christmas Fayre!

Last week we hosted our second ever Christmas Fayre, this time spread over Saturday and Sunday. With a visit from Father Christmas, biscuit decorating, craft

2nd December 2019

Beginnings & Endings: Amelia Opie in 1825 and 1852

December, 2019. Postdoctoral Fellow Kim Simpson writes the fourth in the Amelia Opie blog series Amelia Opie died on this day (2nd December), 1853. Today, in

11th November 2019

Happy Birthday, Amelia!

November, 2019. Postdoctoral Fellow Kim Simpson writes the third in the Amelia Opie blog series ‘Mrs. Opie is often acknowledged handsome, but always allowed to