#steventon

[vox-anglosphere]

Jane Austen at 250

[ebaybears]

x

[coutelier]

So when I'm taking photos with Nevis, since he's not inclined to stay perfectly still I usually take several at a time so I can search through them later. I'm not going to keep all the 'raw' files on my computer indefinitely, so I figured I'd just make them into a slideshow.

[kcinpa]

In honor of Jane Austen’s 242nd birthday, some pictures from my September trip to Hampshire.

1. Statue in Basingstoke, dedicated July 2017. 2. Jane Austen’s pelisse coat, on display at the Willis Museum, Basingstoke. 3. St. Nicholas Church in Steventon, where her father was rector. 4&5. Inside the church. 6. An 800+ old yew tree grows next to the church. 7&8. Details on church.

[readingdiary]

ANNIVERSARY 16/12/21 - ‘PRIDE AND PREJUDICE’ - JANE AUSTEN 

AND ‘DEATH COMES TO PEMBERLEY’  - P.D. JAMES 

AND ‘ THE BENET WOMEN’ - EDEN APPIAH-KUBI

Today is Jane Austen’s birthday so I begin reading ‘Pride and Prejudice’ again. I have been wanting to read ‘Death Comes to Pemberley’ by P.D. James for a long time - ever since becoming interested in the endless Austen spin-offs - and reading James for book group this autumn has inspired me. Therefore ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is the obvious choice. I have also been reading ‘The Benet Women’ by Eden Appiah-Kubi on Kindle on and off since October.

P and I visit Steventon and Deane. We park by Deane church and walk over the fields to Ashe church. We then drive up to Steventon church.

ALL SAINTS CHURCH - DEANE

*****

*****

****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

HOLY TRINITY AND ST ANDREW CHURCH - ASHE

*****

*****

*****

ST NICHOLAS CHURCH - STEVENTON

*****

*****

*****

*****

The site of the STEVENTON RECTORY where Jane Austen grew up

*****

Flowers for the JANE AUSTEN STATUE in BASINGSTOKE - a ceremony with the local MP

*****

*****

*****

2020′s pilgrimage

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

The nativity at the bus stop (sadly not in 2021)

*****

*****

The JANE AUSTEN STATUE in BASINGSTOKE MARKET

*****

*****

*****

*****

[jana-hallford]

Celebrating Jane Austen on Her Birthday

Famed English novelist Jane Austen was born the 16th of December, 1775, in Steventon, Hampshire. In an earlier blog, concluding a series about birth month flowers and birthstones, I mentioned a turquoise ring that belonged to Jane Austen.

She was a December baby because she arrived a month later than expected. Happily, her father was pleased to have another girl, "a future companion to her sister," Cassandra. That winter was so cold this clergyman’s daughter was not baptized until the 5th of April, 1776.

As a child Jane entertained herself and her family by writing short stories. By age seventeen her writing foreshadowed some of her mature works. Her books, still loved and read today, include: Sense and Sensibility (1811); Pride and Prejudice (1813); Mansfield Park (1814); and Emma (1815); plus two books published after her death in 1817 at the age of 41, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion (both 1818).

Her keen, often witty observations of society give us a vivid picture of her world. In keeping with the rules of her social station, her books were published anonymously, with the demure words “by a lady” the only hint of her identity. 

In honor of Jane Austen’s birthday, here’s a timeless quote booklovers will appreciate from Pride and Prejudice:

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” 

Like countless others, I’m glad my own library includes Jane Austen’s novels!

[kcinpa]

DESTINATION Basingstoke has launched a new leaflet for a six-mile walk around Steventon to explore Jane Austen country.

 The gentle but scenic walk, which was put together by local Jane Austen expert Phil Howe, starts from Steventon Church and takes a loop around Ashe and Deane, with the leaflet explaining some of the places that influenced her writing.

 Jane Austen was living in Steventon when she wrote one of her most infamous novels – Pride and Prejudice.

 Felicity Edwards, managing director of Destination Basingstoke, said: “Jane Austen spent half of her life just outside Basingstoke, living in Steventon, we are keen to encourage people to appreciate the impact local people and landscapes had on her writing.”