Museum
By the start of the twentieth century part of the house was tenanted by a workmen's club. The remainder of the house was split into cottages for estate workers.
Jane Austen's House Museum was established in 1947 and is owned and run by the Jane Austen Memorial Trust, a registered charity which has as its objects "the advancement of education and in particular the study of English literature, especially the works of Jane Austen." It is visited by ~30,000 people each year.
The Museum's collection includes eight music books owned by Jane Austen, with pieces transcribed in her own hand. In addition, among the items of Jane Austen's furniture on display in Chawton Cottage are a Clementi pianoforte (about 1810) and a Hepplewhite bureau-bookcase containing several of her works. The museum also has a collection of other Austen family items and furniture.
Regular events are held at the museum, both to further appreciation of Jane Austen, and to encourage new writers. There are also recitals using the Clementi pianoforte and performances based on her works.
Read more about this topic: Jane Austen's House Museum
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