Monk Sherborne
all saints church
This village was home to Mr and Mrs Cullum, who looked after Thomas Leigh (Mrs Austen's brother) and George Austen (Mr & Mrs Austen's son).
Thomas Leigh was sent there as a young boy around 1750 and lived out his whole life privately and quietly. He died in December 1821 aged 74, and was buried in the churchyard of All Saints.
Although his affliction has not been identified, it is known that he had difficulty speaking and learning and so was consequently an embarrassment to his family. Mr and Mrs Leigh sent him away and paid the Cullums to care for him in the countryside so that their reputation in Harpsden would not be harmed.
It was not uncommon for parents to do this at the time, as any hint of madness in a family could seriously affect the marriage prospects of their other children, who would be tainted by association.
Photo: All Saints Church, Monk Sherborne, Hampshire.
Photos: Public roads, Monk Sherborne, Hampshire.
When he was around four years of age, Mr and Mrs Austen realised that their second son, George, was not developing as he should and they faced a similar decision to send him away.
They chose the same couple who were still looking after Thomas and young George Austen went to live with them from around the age of six years old, probably in 1773.
His care was paid for by the Austen family up until his death on January 17th 1838, aged 72. He is also buried in the churchyard of All Saints.
Price Grisham has written an extensively researched article on the history of Thomas and George for the Persuasions-On-Line publication of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA). You can read the article here.
Photos: All Saints Church, Monk Sherborne, Hampshire.
sherborne st. john
st. Andrew's church
Photo: St Andrew's Church, Sherborne St. John
The church of St. Andrews was the living given to James Austen in 1791 by his friend, the influential William Chute. He served this parish, in addition to his duties elsewhere, until he died.
the vyne
Photos: The Vyne, Sherborne St. John, Hampshire.
The Vyne was home to William Chute in Sherborne St. John. He was a Member of Parliament for Hampshire and a close friend of James Austen. Other members of the Austen family were also invited to dine here.
The estate remains one of the grand historical properties of Hampshire and is now owned by The National Trust. Details of its opening times can be accessed on the webpage for The Vyne available here.
basingstoke
Two miles south of Sherborne St. John is the large town of Basingstoke, where the Austen family and their neighbours attended Assembly Balls held in The Angel Hotel.
The hotel is no longer there, but the late historian (and intrepid Janeite) Constance Hill, saw it before it was demolished. She details her fascinating experiences of standing in the ballroom in her book, 'Jane Austen: Her Homes and Her Friends'. You can read this extract (Chapter VI, The County Ballroom) on the website for 'A Celebration of Women Writers' here.
Although the buildings mentioned in our novel have long since disappeared, there is still a visible pride in the town for its links with Jane Austen.
The Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery has a bronze life-sized statue of the author outside its door, where visitors are encouraged to come and take a selfie with her. For more information you can access the museum website here.
You can watch a BBC news report from the day the statue was unveiled here
In the square opposite the museum there is a blue plaque sign placed by the Basingstoke Heritage Society, which commemorates where Jane Austen attended the Assembly Balls.
MONK SHERBORNE extract
If you would like to read an extract from The Austens of Steventon, where the events happen in Monk Sherborne, click here.
REFERENCES
1. Ancestry.co.uk (2023) 'Thomas Leigh' in the 'Hampshire, England, Church of England Burials,1813-1921.' ENTRY DETAILS:'Burials in the Parish of Monk Sherborne, in the County of Southampton, in the years 1820-21: Page 10, Entry no.80.' Hampshire Archives and Local Studies
2. Ancestry.co.uk (2023)'George Austen' in the 'Hampshire, England, Church of England Burials,1813-1921.' ENTRY DETAILS:'Burials in the Parish of Monk Sherborne, in the County of Southampton, in the years 1837-38: Page 26, Entry no.205.' Hampshire Archives and Local Studies.
3. Nokes D. (1997) Jane Austen A Life. California: University of California Press, p. 25
4. The Clergy Database (2023) ‘Austen, James (1761-1806)’ Available at: https://theclergydatabase.org.uk/jsp/persons/CreatePersonFrames.jsp?PersonID=8414
5. Townsend T. (2014) Jane Austen's Hampshire. Somerset: Halsgrove, pp. 38-50
6. Tucker, G.H. (1983) ‘George - the unfortunate brother’ in A Goodly Heritage. Manchester: Carcanet New Press, pp.115-117
7. Worsley L. (2017) Jane Austen at Home. London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, pp. 48-51.