Part 2 follow up to Jane Austen's house Chawton

The Austen carriage was pulled by a donkey as the family could not afford a horse. Most days Jane and her sister Cassandra would walk locally for exercise but for shopping trips they would have used this carriage. This is the board showing the carriage and the photo also shows  where the carriage was harnessed to the donkey.

I wasn't going to try one on but my husband  " persuaded " me , This part of the house had lots of costumes  to try on.  I loved it ; to be in that era ( early 19th C )  house wearing a bonnet from that era was like being a time traveller.  I laughed so much.

The photo shows some of the outfits in the background.

Jane's sister Cassandra did a painting of her sister out in the countryside and Jane was in a blue gown. A replica has been made and stands in her bedroom. It is such a pretty shade of blue.  I hope Cassandra matched her paint to the colour of Jane's dress.

In Pride and Prejudice Mrs Bennet says to her daughter Jane,

" Jane,  run and put on your blue gown ."

I was hoping that Jane Austen included this reference thinking of her own blue gown.

This is the fireplace on which some of the food would have been cooked as well as giving heat.  The curators have placed pinecones there which I found a pleasing touch.

Jane's friend Martha Lloyd, a widow with no means of support, lived with the family and did most of the cooking.

I loved this fireplace when I saw it, so authentic.

I had hoped this was Jane's bed and wondered if this was where she had died very young . But the bed is an exact replica of her bed and she died at a doctor's house in Winchester.

I am a great fan of information boards and I always photograph them so I can  look back at facts that I may have missed or forgotten .

The house is full of excellently researched material and memories from her family.

These pictures show some of the houses she stayed in following the death of her father and before her brother gave them a house on his estate.

I am including a different angle view of her writing table ( to the other article ) as I think this shows how good the light is for her writing .

Opposite the house now stands a tea shop which is named after Jane's sister, Cassandra.

Cassandra's Cup Tea Rooms does a splendid afternoon tea and on the ceiling hangs a superb collection of bone china tea cups. How quaint is that.

It really gives atmosphere as you go in and it is an ideal way to finish a visit to Jane Austen's House Chawton, Hampshire.

Thank you to you all for your interest in Jane's house and my visit.