Jane Austen's house greets Year 10

Students in Year 10 swapped school bags for bonnets this Activities Week, as they stepped back in time with a trip to Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, followed by a visit to the grand and glorious Chawton House, all in celebration of the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth.

As students are studying Pride and Prejudice, it was the perfect opportunity to walk (quite literally) in Austen’s footsteps. The group marvelled at the modest Hampshire cottage where Jane Austen spent the final eight years of her life and, more importantly, where she wrote or revised all six of her major novels. The highlight? For most, it was seeing the tiny, three-legged writing table where her characters came to life. Barely anything to work with: just a quill, a window seat and sheer genius.

The other place of interest was Chawton House, the 'Great House' once owned by Austen’s brother Edward. Students explored the atmospheric library packed with rare books, including some enviable first editions. There was even a chance to take a turn about the gardens, complete with a stroll through the walled garden and “wilderness”, which, fortunately, featured flowers rather than feral beasts.

With its sweeping views, historical treasures and a healthy dose of literary fantasising, the trip was a perfect way to mark Austen’s legacy and bring the world of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy vividly to life.