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

Round & About

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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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Regency Week celebrates Jane Austen’s 250th

Karen Neville

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Jane Austen

Karen Neville

Pat Lerew tells us how JA250 is being marked throughout the year with special events and celebrations taking place in the county and nearby cities Jane Austen knew and loved 

For all Jane Austen fans, but especially those in Hampshire, 2025 is a very important year as it’s the 250th anniversary of her birth in Steventon.  

Alton and Chawton are no exception so this year Jane Austen Regency Week, June 21st-29th, will be bigger and better than ever, with record numbers of visitors expected and some ticketed events already sold out. Fortunately, several events are free or non-ticketed so can still be enjoyed by all. The welcome reception on the evening of June 20th at Alton House Hotel is one and Regency Day in Alton from 10am until 3pm on June 21st is another. 

Regency Day will expand this year to cover the whole High Street from Normandy Street to Drayman’s Way, with stalls, petting animals, carriage rides, a French market, a craft market, entertainment and children’s rides. A parade will form up in the Market Square at 10.30am behind the Carriage and Horses and make its way to the top of Crown Hill where, at 11am, Caroline Knight, Jane Austen’s five times great niece will formally open the new Jane Austen Garden outside the Assembly Rooms and unveil the commemorative sculpture. 

The events in Chawton on Sunday, 22nd June are all sold out but the tour and teas at Wyards on Monday 23rd still has some spaces as does the sewing and embroidery workshop at Chawton. There are tickets available for all the book readings at Goldfinch Books throughout the week. 

There are also tickets available for all the events on Tuesday, 24th June, though the teatime discussion about Pride and Prejudice is selling fast. The talks and walks on Wednesday, 25th June still have tickets available and the talk about Jane Austen’s pelisse at the Allen Gallery is free while the actual pelisse is on display at the Curtis Museum throughout Jane Austen Week. 

The organ recital at historic St Lawrence Church on Thursday 26th is also free as is the viewing of the Jane Austen Book Collection at Alton Library and there are tickets available for the tour of Chawton House and garden. The film Becoming Jane will be showing at Gilbert White’s House in Selborne in the evening. 

Staying in Selborne on Friday 27th there is a choice of tours or sewing or visit Jane Austen’s house in Chawton for a discussion on textiles and dress. Back in Alton on Saturday, 28th June there is a children’s craft morning at Alton Library, two historian’s tours during the day and a country dance in the evening. 

The final day on Sunday, 29th June starts in Chawton with a tour of Jane Austen’s House, moves into Alton for a walking tour of 19th century breweries and hostelries and concludes at St Lawrence Parish Church for Choral Evensong lead by their renowned choir. 

Full details of all the events for Jane Austen Regency Week 2025 can be found at janeaustenregencyweek.co.uk 

Pat Lerew

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Plied, not Pride, and Prejudice

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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A very different adaptation of Jane Austen classic will have you reaching for a drink!

A fun night out full of madness and mayhem Plied and Prejudice is a side-splitting parody of Jane Austen’s classic novel, brought to you by a hilariously inappropriate cast of actors and musicians.

Telling the tale of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy as you have seen it before Plied and Prejudice invites you to Pemberley for Mr Darcy’s booziest ball. Equal parts performance and party, this immersive show delivers lots of audience participation complete with dance lessons, inappropriate proposals, free flowing drinks brought to you by the servants, that wet shirt scene and cameos from Keira Knightly (not the real one!).

With five actors scrambling to play 20 characters in this chaotic retelling, all notions of respectable theatre (and Regency etiquette) are thrown out the door! Direct from a sellout run in Australia, this is Pride and Prejudice as the BBC would never abide.

Whether you are an Austen die-hard, or you’d rather be watching Die Hard, you’re sure to love it – most ardently! Bring your eligible bachelors, your unmarried daughters, and the lover you will settle for if your cousin won’t have you, for an unhinged night of love, lust and libations.

Perfect for fans of Jane Austen, Bridgerton, Secret Cinema and Punch Drunk. As the blurb says: It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in Regency England must be in want of a very stiff drink

Opening at The Vaults in London on 20th March, Plied and Prejudice will run until 18th May with tickets starting at £19 and available from Plied and Prejudice in London: A comedy theatre show. Using a traverse or catwalk style stage, audience members sit opposite each other on the chequered dancefloor of Pemberley’s ballroom watching the story unfold in front of them.

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Pride and Prejudice Festival

Karen Neville

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Jane Austen

Karen Neville

This year marks Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, a special programme and new events are planned throughout the year at her house in Chawton to celebrate

Celebrations for the much-loved author’s birthday begin with the first festival from January 23rd to 28th focusing on Jane Austen’s best-loved novel Pride and Prejudice.

A pianist will play throughout the festival on the 1813 Clementi square piano bringing the house to life. Explore the house with a fun P&P trail and discover items left by characters from the novel including Lydia’s abandoned game of Lottery Tickets and Mary’s copy of Fordyce’s Sermons.

Step into Lizzy’s muddy shoes or Darcy’s riding boots. Grab a bonnet and fan or top hat and greatcoat and pose as Jane’s characters in the pop-up photo station.

Enjoy pop-up talks on Friday 24th, 2pm; Saturday 25th, 1pm and Tuesday 28th, 11.30am. Join a stitching circle with your own sewing, knitting or embroidery and chat as Lizzy, Jane and their sisters would have done or how about taking inspiration from the spirit of Jane Austen and join a creative writing session.

Test your Pride and Prejudice knowledge at Goldfinch Books in Alton with a quiz night on 23rd themed around all things Pride and all things Prejudice! Expect some Austen, but be prepared to answer questions on all types of literature with Austen-themed prizes to win.

The Pride and Prejudice Festival will build on the success of the museum’s annual Pride & Prejudice Day on 28th, the anniversary of the novel’s publication. For full details of all events visit Events | Jane Austen’s House

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Jane Austen anniversary

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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GSC bring their ‘five star’ Pride and Prejudice back to Guildford

Three actors will conjure 17 unforgettable characters over a breathless 120 minutes in Guildford Shakespeare Company’s ‘sparkling’ Pride and Prejudice.

After premiering in Guildford in February last year, the company are bringing the much-loved story back this February for the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth.

Hearts are set racing when eligible bachelors descend on Meryton, sending the Bennet family into a frenzy of emotions and passions. At the centre of all the excitement, the meeting of Lizzie Bennet and Mr Darcy ignites one of the most famous love stories of all time.

Complete with Regency dances, dresses and desires, the faithful adaptation is beautifully choreographed by Amy Lawrence and designed by Neil Irish.

GSC co-founder and producer Matt Pinches said: “When so much work, talent and dedication go into making a piece of theatre it is incredibly rewarding when all that commitment and love receives another life, to be shared with even more people. It’s also very special to know that we’re playing a small role in the 250th anniversary global celebrations of one of the greatest novelists in the English language.”

Enjoy Pride and Prejudice at Holy Trinity Church Guildford, February 13th to March 1st. Book tickets at PRIDE & PREJUDICE 2025 – Guildford Shakespeare Company

GSC began in 2006 with the aim of creating ‘exceptional theatre in extraordinary places’. This tour of Pride and Prejudice goes on to board Cunard’s Queen Victoria at Fort Lauderdale travelling to Lisbon via Bermuda.

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Meet Elizabeth Bennet

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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From page to face-to-face conversation, meet Jane Austen’s most loved character through the magic of technology at the author’s house at Chawton

Fans of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice can enjoy a conversation with their literary hero when speaking with the world-first Elizabeth Bennet avatar – Lizzy. 

Created by StarPal in collaboration with University for the Creative Arts (UCA), the avatar has been developed to mirror the human qualities of Austen’s character as detailed in the novel, such as empathy and humour. Her conversations, which fans will have with her face-to-avatar at the Learning Centre at Jane’s house in Chawton, will evolve, giving each person who talks to Lizzy a unique experience.  

How does Lizzy feel about being a world-first? She said: “It is quite an interesting notion indeed – I must say being Elizabeth Bennet in a world far removed from my own time is an unexpected but intriguing experience. It allows me to share the intricacies of our society and my life with new audiences.” 

Following consultation and guidance from Jane Austen’s House, Lizzy’s knowledge bank has been curated from a selection of novels, manuscripts and period-accurate information. 

Lizzy is set within a Regency-style background. Her dress and hair have been designed and created by students from the Games Arts and Digital Fashion courses at UCA, drawing on fashion templates from the period. 

Sophy Smith, Director of Games and Creative Technology at UCA and the originator of the project, said: “It is so exciting to finally be able to lift Elizabeth Bennet off the page and to be able to have real-time conversations with her. To be able to cross time in this way is joyful – you get a real sense of speaking directly to someone from the 18th century. Imagine – you can now have Elizabeth Bennet as your friend.  

“This technology has the potential to transform experiences within both the museum and heritage, as well as the education sector. Visitors to Jane Austen’s House, will have the opportunity to not only experience the renowned author’s home but also engage directly with one of her most famous characters. It could transform learning – instead of only having text-based revision guides, students can now learn about literature by speaking directly to the characters.” 

Director of Jane Austen’s House, Lizzie Dunford, said: “It has been fascinating to watch this project develop, and to witness the innovative staff and students at UCA developing these new technologies, and new ways of accessing literary and cultural heritage.” 

Anya Haber, an MA Digital Fashion student who created the dress in 3D, added: “It showed how useful technology can be in a historical setting, letting fans engage with fictional characters…and that’s just the beginning.” 

Fans will have the chance to interact with Lizzy at the Learning Centre at Jane Austen’s House until mid-December, included with House entry. 

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Journey with Jane

Karen Neville

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Karen Neville

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Explore and uncover the links between Jane Austen and the Thames Valley with a new book by Berkshire author Jane Durant and follow in the delicate footsteps of our heroine

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen is one of our most loved authors and her books some of the most read in the world, but how much do we know of her local connections?

Discover a fresh perspective on her life with a new book Jane Austen in the Thames Valley which delves into her lesser-known connections with our area in the expert hands of local author Jane Durant.

The Thames Valley, a region frequently overlooked in Austen studies, harbours numerous ties to the beloved author, more than initially apparent as June reveals in this thoroughly researched and meticulously documented book, unveiling these connections. Accompanying the narrative are three detailed excursions designed to help readers explore and uncover the links between Jane Austen and the Thames Valley.

“For enthusiasts like me,” begins June, a retired teacher, “we must visit the places where Jane Austen placed her feet or had any tenuous connection with her. We all wish that she visited our own area – whether it be the United Kingdom or further afield. I felt that her connection with my area of the Thames Valley (I lived in Wokingham and now Arborfield) was neglected and I began to visit such places that were mentioned in her many biographies or articles written about her. The very lack of evidence provoked the bloodhound in me.”

June’s ‘bloodhound’ was first stirred after being given a year’s subscription to the Jane Austen Society in the early 1990s and, despite the writer not being on her radar, on a whim she decided to keep up the subscription and her love affair blossomed, “I began with biographies and initially knew more about her than about her books.”

Those books – Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814), Emma (1815), Northanger Abbey (1817) and Persuasion (1817) – are as loved today as they were when Jane put pen to paper at her home in Chawton, Hampshire, sitting at her small writing table. 

Her enduring attraction June puts down to “academics in the literary world who wish to admire and analyse a style of prose. There is plenty to intrigue the critique in Austen. Then there are the films that animate the general public who, especially over the past two decades, love costume drama. 

“Another reason for Austen’s enduring attraction is that her novels are wide open for the fan-fiction writers of this world. Her unfinished stories (The Watsons and Sanditon) had them finished by novelists as early as 1845 and continue to this present day with Andrew Davies’s Sanditon. It could also be that there are others like me who just can’t leave unanswered questions alone.” 

It was these unanswered questions that led June to her book Jane Austen in the Thames Valley investigating beyond the biographies and through the ‘evidence’ sections in her book clarifies some of Jane’s connections with Berkshire and Oxfordshire. She continues: “Added to this, I can’t stop writing and have kept a journal for decades. My Jane Austen journals are also illustrated with photographs and ephemera. Jane Austen in the Thames Valley sort of materialised unintentionally and then I wanted to share my discoveries with my Jane Austen friends. Two successful publications encouraged me to submit the book to [publishers] Austin Macauley.” 

June’s writing examines Henley and Harpsden, rich in familial links and evidenced in a letter in which Jane writes: “We are to go to Windsor in our way to Henley”. Further explorations led to discoveries in Fawley, Hurley, Wargave, Sonning and Hare Hatch where she followed in the footsteps of many of Jane’s friends and relations. 

Reading is well known as where Jane went to school, the Jane Austen Society has placed a plaque near the spot where the school once stood. Jane and her brother Henry stayed in Reading overnight when she writes in a letter from the time “I should not wonder if we got no farther than Reading on Thursday evening”. She references a stop over in Reading in Sense and Sensibility when sisters Eleaner and Marianne are travelling and “wondered whether Mr Palmer and Colonel Brandon would get farther than Reading that night”, showing her familiarity with Reading as a staging post. 

June’s work gives an insight into the life and character of Jane, whose sense of humour, interest in human behaviour and quirky opinions of idiosyncrasies shape her novels and form her characters. “Mostly she was a typical parson’s daughter of her times, with the added injection of an incredibly intelligent and lively family life,” says June. While she garnered little ’fame’ in her own lifetime had she been living in this celebrity-obsessed time, June adds: “I think she would have been very pleased at her celebrity status – so long as she did not become famous and ‘an exhibit’. I think, too, that she would have been derisive of the extreme fanaticism of some of her Janeite fans.” 

So which is June’s favourite Austen? “My favourite book is always the one that I would be currently reading. At the moment it is Northanger Abbey which gallops along with a lot of humour and young persons’ view of life. Every time I read this book I fall in love with Henry Tilney. He remains my favourite man of all the novels. And I must admit that I love Catherine best because I prefer to teach teenagers to any other age group.” 

Jane Austen in the Thames Valley is available from Austin Maccauley at Jane Austen in the Thames Valley

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A cordial invitation to Regency Week

Round & About

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Immerse yourself in the world of Jane Austen with dances, walks, talks, workshops and more from June 21st to 30th.

Alton Jane Austen Regency Week has been extended to a 10th day by popular demand to allow people to collect costumes ordered for the Summer Ball for the following day or attend a workshop to produce decorative accessories to wear with them.

There will also be a Welcome Reception in the evening to collect tickets, meet the organisers and hear from our Patron and Guest of Honour, Caroline Knight, Jane Austen’s five times great niece, who grew up at Chawton House.

Most of the first weekend will follow the regular pattern; Regency Day on Saturday with the Regency Market in the Town Centre, followed by a Dance Workshop in the afternoon and Summer Ball in the evening.

The Festivities move to Chawton on Sunday morning with a visit to Jane Austen’s house, a walk round the village and a parade to Chawton House for a picnic lunch with Caroline Knight. Tea at the Allen Gallery is followed by Regency Choral Evensong with the renowned St Lawrence Church Choir.

Monday starts with a talk about Embroidered Paper and continues with an afternoon at Wyards Farm, the home of Jane’s favourite niece and regularly visited by her, before ending with a Midsummer evening at Chawton House.

Tuesday it’s on to Gilbert White’s House at Selborne for a sewing workshop and House and Garden tours. In the evening the Allen Gallery will show the 1940 film version of Pride and Prejudice starring Laurence Olivier.

Wednesday brings a bonnet workshop while the more energetic can opt for a guided walk around Alton. Take part in a parasol decorating workshop and enjoy a talk about Mr Darcy from Jessica Bull and Louise Morrish covering Jessica’s new book.

The Lunchtime Regency Organ Concert at St Lawrence Church will wake everyone up after a quiet morning in the library exploring their Jane Austen book collection, followed by a discussion of Northanger Abbey at the Friends’ Meeting House before an evening circular walk around Chawton.

Friday will be spent in Chawton with two hours at Chawton House during the day and Jane Austen’s house will be open during the evening until 8pm.

The morning is divided between Chawton and Alton on Saturday starting with a tour of Jane Austen’s house followed by guided walk of Chawton. At the same time there will be children’s Regency inspired crafts at Alton Library. The increasingly popular Country Dance will be held at the Assembly Rooms in the evening.

The 10th and last day, Sunday 30th, features a guided walk of Alton in the morning and a Book Fair at the Community Centre during the day. The week closes with the popular Regency Supper at Jane Austen’s house in the evening.

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