Jane Austen Winchester Tours
College Street, Winchester
At the end of May 1817, Jane Austen's health deteriorated, her sister Cassandra accompanied her to live in College Street, Winchester (now a private house). There, Jane was monitored by her physician, Dr. Gilles Lyford. Although her illness made her body weak, her strength of mind was not. She wrote poetry and pencilled a short poem entitled 'Venta' on 15th July, 1817, to mark St.Swithun's Day. Several days later, during the late afternoon of the seventeenth, Jane became increasingly ill. In the early morning (4.30am) of 18th July, 1817, Jane Austen passed away aged 41, in the arms of Cassandra.
Winchester Cathedral
Jane's was laid to rest in Winchester Cathedral on 24th July, 1817. Cassandra was unable to attend her funeral. She was buried in the north aisle of the Cathedral, the original plaque made no reference to her literature. Much later on, a brass plaque to commemorate her literary achievements was later placed on the north wall with the inscription, 'known to many by her writings'.
In 1900, a stained glass memorial window was erected in her memory. The window appears above the tablet and is associated more with Jane Austen's faith. The Cathedral Library, on occasion showcases Jane Austen's silhouette that features the unauthentic aged inscription, 'Jane Austen (sic) by herself'.
Tours
- The Story of Jane Austen Tour
- Climb the Tower
- Children's Trail
Attractions
- Gift Shop
- Coffee Shop
Events
- Concerts
- Recitals
- Services
- Festivals
- Exhibitions
Address
Winchester Cathedral
Cathedral Office,
9 The Close,
Winchester,
Hampshire,
SO23 9LS
Contact
Email: cathedral.office@winchester-cathedral.org.uk
Telephone: 01962 857200
Directions
By Train
Winchester is on the main line from London Waterloo with trains running several times an hour (journey time approximately 1 hour). It is also easily accessible by train from Bournemouth, Poole, Southampton, Basingstoke and Oxford.
For information on train times and prices contact National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950 or visit
www.nationalrail.co.uk
By Car
Winchester is well connected to the motorway network and can be easily accessed from all directions. Located just off the M3 (Junctions 9, 10 & 11), it’s an easy journey by road from London (1.5 hours) and Southampton (20 minutes). Take the A34 from Newbury (35 minutes), Oxford (1 hour) and the A30 from Salisbury (40 minutes).
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