From Uffington with Love: The Jane Austen Connection You Didn’t Know

Uffington Museum celebrates the area’s connections to Jane Austen in a new exhibition, between now & autumn, thanks to months of careful curation & analysis

Discover Uffington Museum: A Window into the Village’s Past

The Jane Austen Uffington connection is the focus of a new summer exhibition at Uffington Museum. Opened in 1984, the museum showcases the village’s rich past, including its links to the White Horse and prominent figures like Thomas Hughes, Sir John Betjeman, and now, Jane Austen. This timely exhibition explores Austen’s close relationships with the Lloyd sisters and her ties to the Craven family, deepening the Jane Austen Uffington connection that shaped her personal and literary world.

Jane Austen’s Connection to Uffington

A new exhibition, Pride and Patronage, explores Jane Austen’s ties to Uffington through her friendship with the Lloyd sisters—Martha, Eliza, and Mary—and their grandmother, Elizabeth Craven.

The Craven family owned land around Uffington from the 17th century. Although Parliament seized parts of the estate during the English Civil War, the family regained control after the Restoration of Charles II in 1660. By Austen’s time, William, the 6th Baron, had passed the estate to his son, also named William. Jane often mentioned him in letters, and he is believed to have inspired the character of Willoughby in Sense and Sensibility.

A Small Museum with a Big Story

Though compact, Uffington Museum houses a wide array of artefacts and information. Highlights include the building’s original use as a boys’ school, founded by Thomas Saunders in 1617.

A dedicated team of volunteers manages the museum. They share local history with visitors, help trace family roots, and maintain the exhibits. The museum operates entirely on grants and donations.

Plan Your Visit

The museum is now open for the summer season. You can visit on Saturdays, Sundays, and Bank Holidays from Easter to the end of October, between 2–5 p.m. Entry is free, though donations are welcome and appreciated.

Don’t miss the Pride and Patronage exhibition, launched in celebration of Jane Austen’s 250th birthday. It’s a unique opportunity to see how her life and writing connect to this historic village.

For more about the exhibition, click here.

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