Spring at Chawton House All through the Wilderness, the snowdrops are out in force and the daffodils are on their way as the Garden comes alive in colour. We have a jam-packed spring here for you all to enjoy; from flower- themed talks on the collection, to Gardens guided tours, from kids trails and [...] The post Chawton House Welcomes the Spring appeared first on Chawton House ..read more

The Maria Graham Collection allocated to Chawton House through Arts Council’s Acceptance in Lieu scheme A collection of portraits, books and drawings belonging to Maria Graham – the first professional female travel writer – has been allocated to Chawton House, via Arts Council England’s Acceptance In Lieu Scheme Portrait of Mrs. Maria Graham (1785-1842), [...] The post Maria Graham Collection allocated to Chawton House appeared first on Chawton House ..read more

  Villains In Power  16 October - 4 November  ‘You speak like a heroine […] We shall see if you can suffer like one.’ Montoni to Emily, Ann Radcliffe The Mysteries of Udolpho From the wicked uncles sinister patriarchs of Radcliffe’s novels to the Byronic heroes that developed into the first English Vampires, and the [...] The post Gothic Season at Chawton House appeared first on Chawton House ..read more

  Showcasing the Treasures of Chawton House Rare and never before seen Treasures of Chawton House displayed together for the first time to celebrate our 20th anniversary! Chawton House, Hampshire, August 2023. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of opening to the public, Chawton House will be bringing together some of the most precious treasures in [...] The post The never-before-seen ‘Treasures of Chawton House’ appeared first on Chawton House ..read more

Music book once owned by Jane Austen and bearing her signature donated to Chawton House  Chawton House, Hampshire, July 2023. A music book once belonging to Jane Austen and bearing her signature, whereabouts unknown since 1978, has been rediscovered. The volume, Domenico Corri’s Select Collection of Choice Music for the Harpsichord or Piano Forte (c.1790) [...] The post Jane Austen’s lost music book discovered after 40 years! appeared first on Chawton House ..read more

  Celebrating 20 years of Chawton House – 13-16 July  Chawton House invites you to celebrate a remarkable milestone during its Anniversary Weekend! Join us for a weekend filled with literary inspiration and cultural festivities, honouring twenty years of preserving and promoting early women's writing, alongside our historic house, gardens and parkland. Immerse yourself in [...] The post Announcing our 20th anniversary programme appeared first on Chawton House ..read more

Online Conference. Quills and Characters: approaches to women’s letters, 1660-1860 1-2 September, 2023 Letters were at the heart of eighteenth-century literary culture. The first novels were written in letters, capitalising on their ability to show us a character’s inner thoughts. Published collections of letters promised readers insight into the private worlds of the first celebrities, [...] The post Call for Papers appeared first on Chawton House ..read more

More famous than Jane Austen in their day, discover the fascinating lives of the now little-known novelists, the Porter sisters, who feature in our current exhibition, 'Quills and Characters'. Described as "the most famous sister novelists before the Brontës" the hugely popular Porter sisters were among the most widely-read writers in Regency England. Between them, [...] The post Ever heard of the Porter sisters? appeared first on Chawton House ..read more

Chawton, Hampshire, April 2023. 2023 is the 20th anniversary of Chawton House opening to the public. To mark this milestone, the heritage site once owned by Jane Austen’s brother is launching an urgent fundraising appeal to ensure its legacy continues for the next twenty years and beyond.   Chawton House has never had more visitors, [...] The post Our 20th Anniversary Appeal appeared first on Chawton House ..read more