Steventon. Every Janeite has heard of this sleepy little village in Hampshire and the parsonage in which Jane lived over half her life. It was situated in the chalk hills of North Hants, about seven miles from Basingstoke. As with Chawton, I “traveled” through narrow lanes to St. Nicholas church, where Reverend Austen held Sunday services, married parishioners, and baptized babies, and where members of the Austen family were laid to rest.
Drive to St. Nicholas. Google street view.
Edward Austen Leigh, Jane’s nephew, described the area as somewhat tame but well clothed with woods and hedgerows. The soil is poor, and while there is an abundance of timber, there are no large trees.
The narrow winding lanes curve naturally and offer pleasant nooks and corners. Google street view.
Approach to the church, which sits on the left, behind the tree. Google street view.
St. Nicholas as seen from the road, with the graves of the Austen family to the right. Google street view.
St. Nicholas church, first mentioned in records in 1238. Image @Tony Grant
Interior of St. Nicholas. Two of the three arches have been closed in. Image @Tony Grant
Detail of the arch to the right in the above image. Image @Tony Grant
St. Nicholas’s stained glass window, which dates from 1883. Image @Tony Grant
Gargoyle. Image@Tony Grant
Another view of the lane near the church. One can imagine Jane and Cassandra walking through this country, wearing pattens during rainy weather to protect their delicate shoes, clutching their red hooded cloaks, and umbrellas.
The old rectory site where the parsonage once stood. A well (inside the enclosure in back of the tree) is the only visible remnant of that house. Image @Tony Grant
More on the topic
- Listen to a description of Steventon and Jane Austen’s life there in this Librivox recording of A Memoir of Jane Austen. Click here.
- St. Nicholas, Steventon, a description and history
- St. Nicholas Church, more images
- Arial view of the area
Jane Austen's World 