Jane Austen Residence
The former steward's cottage was a gift of Jane's brother, Edward Austen Knight to allow his mother and sisters to have a permanent residence. Jane Austen lived in the house with her mother and sister, Cassandra, and a long time family friend Martha Lloyd, from 7 July 1809 until May 1817, when because of illness she moved to Winchester to be near her physician. She died in Winchester on 18 July 1817, though her mother and sister continued to live in the house until their deaths in 1827 and 1845 respectively.
When she arrived at Chawton she had written three novels in draft form, these were Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and Northanger Abbey. It is possible that she revised these novels at the house, before getting them published. In addition it was here that she wrote Mansfield Park, Emma and Persuasion.
Read more about this topic: Jane Austen's House Museum
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