Chawton House

256 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

4/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

May, 2018

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Wife

Reasons for trip

Almost as familiar to Jane Austen as her own home’ but in every sense larger, Chawton House is a few minutes’ walk from what is now Jane Austen’s House Museum. It is easy to imagine how she would have used her frequent visits to provide details for her novels, for example Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s home. While not on the Pemberley scale, it is still very impressive.

We settled for the gardens, plus the tea room, as it was a very warm day. Even so the reception area with books by Gothic novelists gave an insight on ‘Northanger Abbey,’ but there was nothing of that style about the gardens until we reached the Wilderness, as even the Fernery was rather domesticated.

The Library Terrace, developed a century after Edward Austen’s refashioning of the gardens, is a good place for open air refreshments, discreetly beneath the South Lawn and its ha-ha. This follows the ideas of Capability Brown, whereas the Terrace bears the influence of Lutyens. The sloping site gives various vistas leading towards the serpentine gravel path established in the nineteenth century, or across countryside. It is good to see a garden developing in different styles just as a house would have.

A particular feature is the Walled Garden, actually two areas. One was referred to by Jane Austen as a planned kitchen garden, but was not completed until after her death. An ornamental flower garden was created later with a wall dividing it from the kitchen garden; later still the flower garden became an orchard. It now has four beds and the orchard. In one bed is the Elizabeth Blackwell Herb Garden, featuring medicinal herbs for treating different parts of the body arranged in separate beds. ‘A Curious Herbal,’ Elizabeth Blackwell’s book, sold in sufficient numbers to enable her to procure her husband’s release from debtors’ prison.

In several parts of the gardens are quotations from Jane Austen and a letter written by Elizabeth Montagu in 1762, which is inscribed on a circular bench. Particularly relevant in May was the quotation from ‘Pride and Prejudice’ regarding how picking strawberries brings the drawback of having to bend.

The Wilderness is just the sort of woodland that small children can frighten themselves in without any fear of harm. Coming out of it with a wonderful scent of wild garlic we caught sight of the house again and decided it was time for tea. The old kitchen is the ideal place for it, if you have had enough fresh air.

Leaving the estate, not this time visiting the church as before, we were able to glance back and see it in the agricultural setting where all such houses belong.

John.Pelling

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.