Jane Austen – Her Final Chapter Unfolds Here – The House where Jane Austen Died

Jane Austen – Her Final Chapter Unfolds Here – The House where Jane Austen Died

the final chapter of Jane Austin’s life unfolded here at 8 College Street Winchester her final weeks her final words and the quiet courage she endured in the final moments and now for the first time to celebrate the 250th anniversary of her birth this house is open to the public just for a few short weeks to explore so join us as we explore the house and also some other areas on the Jane Austin Winchester Trail here morning you join me in front of the Guild Hall in Winchester some 63 mi from London this prominent Victorian Gothic Revival building was built in 1873 long after Jane passed away but today houses the Winchester Visitor Information Center where you can pick up leaflets about all the things to see and do here in this wonderful Hampshire city i have a particular leaflet to pick up so you can pick up a Jane Austin’s Winchester leaflet from the information center and that helps you get around Winchester seeing some of the sites relating to her and also is going to take us to the uh the house where she died so we can do the tour uh for this very limited period so let’s get going winchester has changed irrevocably since Jane Austin strolled these streets but the walking trail highlights some of the buildings that would have existed during her life here we pass St john’s House and chapel in the 18th and 19th centuries its large hall was used as an assembly room the social hub of Winchester and a place that Jane may well have known winchester was the ancient capital of England before London continuing on Broadway the statue is of the famous Saxon King Alfred the Great who made Winchester the capital of his kingdom Wessex in 927 AD this became the capital of England until London took over in 1066 following the Norman invasion we have a separate comprehensive video on all of Winchester’s amazing heritage and history so be sure to check it out at the end as we won’t be repeating it in this video arriving at City Bridge we see the thousand-year-old mill and the fast flowing river itching that travels from Cherton through Winchester on its way to Southampton before joining the sea jane’s letters reveal that she was familiar with the river particularly referencing the Ichin Ferry which she would have used for local travel during her time living in Southampton from 1806 to09 Jane and her family resided in Castle Square in her letters to her sister Cassandra one specific mention of the Itching Ferry appears in October 1808 in this correspondence Jane describes a landscape that includes the ferry indicating her familiarity with the local geography and its features this mode of transport would have been a common part of life for residents of Southampton crossing to Northam or Netley this is a lovely part of the city and a pleasing place to be on a sunny morning away from the hustle and bustle of the city center the walking trail leads to College Street which includes Winchester College and the house where Jane died winchester College one of England’s oldest and most prestigious public schools boasts a rich history dating back to its founding in 1382 the Jane Austin tour runs from the 4th of June to the 30th of August 2025 and starts with a visit to the college treasury housed within a meticulously converted 14th century stable block a hidden gem showcasing a remarkable and diverse collection of art and archaeological artifacts the public can visit the Treasury for free every day between 2:00 p.m and 400 p.m all year round but until the end of 2025 it also includes an exhibition relating to Jane Austin which is why the house tour starts here the connection between the Austin family and the college is significant with eight of Jane Austin’s nephews having been educated within its historic walls six of them were the sons of her brother Edward Austin who later took the name Knight the other two were sons of James and Francis many of the items on display have links to the boys or the time at which they were studying here these college long rolls which are difficult to read do detail the Austin’s attendance and their progress through forms this mid-18th century cricket bat highlights that three of Jane’s wikchamist nephews George Brooke and Edward played firstass cricket the putwer represents the weak beer allowance that they had daily as the water was not always reliably clean among the Austin nephews who attended Winchester a few are of particular note her nephew Charles Austin was a pupil at the college during the period of her final illness in 1817 perhaps the most wellknown is James Edward Austin Lee he would later become his aunt’s biographer publishing a memoir of Jane Austin in 1869 a work that played a crucial role in shaping the public’s understanding and appreciation of the novelist his education at Winchester undoubtedly influenced his intellectual development and literary pursuits this poem is a rare example of Jane Austin copying out the work of another writer Katherine Marie Fanshaw first edition copies of Emma volumes 1 and two of three second editions of Sense and Sensibility volume two of three this manuscript was written by Jane’s brother Henry who made the arrangements for her funeral this is a draft copy of the inscription that would be on her gravestone but does differ slightly to the final inscription jane’s eldest brother James was too ill to attend the funeral he was a good poet and this is a rare surviving poem in his handwriting from 1817 his verses describing Jane being laid to rest in Winchester Cathedral northhanger Abbey and Persuasion were published 5 months after her death and Henry Austin provided a biography of his sister the blue paper book covers still retained on the volumes from the original publishers bindings remember that even if you cannot get tickets for this tour these items are on display until the end of 2025 here at the Treasury which you can visit for free after 25 minutes viewing the artifacts and reading all the interesting information it’s time to head to 8 College Street where she spent her final weeks the house has been owned by Winchester College since 1893 and a poignant intersection of their histories the college that educated so many of her beloved nephews now preserves the memory of her last moments this house dating back to the 18th century succeeded an earlier 17th century structure on the same grounds elements of that timberframed building can still be seen inside number eight alongside its adjacent properties number nine and 10 stood on Winchester Cathedral land and was leased to tenants notably Mrs mary David the land lady during Jane and Cassandra’s stay renting them several rooms on the middle floor the house from the outside looks very much like it did in 1817 although the ground floor left window was enlarged when the building became a confectionary shop in the 1840s and the front door is early 19th century which would have opened into a narrow hallway before the shop significant alterations in the 19th and early 20th centuries were made to the interiors which I’ll point out as we tour the house having been used as accommodation for teachers at the college the restoration work to open it up to the public for the first time revealed some interesting finds stripping back the wall paint and woodwork to the earliest evident paint revealed the color green in this room scrapings have been left exposed in each room and they have all been painted with a near match as the ground floor was altered significantly when it became the shop it is likely the color relates to that period after Jane passed this watercolor featuring the headm’s house in 1852 shows number eight in the right corner and you can just see the enlarged window in 1816 at around 40 years of age Jane Austin began to experience a debilitating illness that would cast a long shadow of the remainder of her life her usually lively letters started to reflect this hinting at growing fatigue and repeated sickness initially she seemed to downplay these symptoms perhaps wishing to shield her family or struggling to admit the seriousness of her condition however as 1817 arrived her health worsened noticeably she was afflicted by extreme weariness severe back pain and a change in her physical appearance by April 1817 she was bedridden recognizing the gravity of her situation she wrote a will on April the 27th in this heartfelt document Austin left almost everything to her sister Cassandra this act weeks before moving to Winchester for treatment reveals her keen awareness of her failing health as Jane deteriorated in the spring of 1817 her village of Chton and the nearby town of Alton lacked the necessary medical care her Alton Apothecary acknowledged his limitations prompting the family to seek specialized advice winchester a regional medical center with a county hospital and expert surgeons was chosen jane aimed to consult Mr charles Lifford hoping his expertise might restore her health in late May 1817 despite being in poor health Jane Austin traveled from Chortton to Winchester her sister Cassandra an unwavering source of support accompanied her and was prepared to offer crucial care jane’s brother Henry facilitated the treatment with Dr lifford moreover the Austin sister secured lodgings on College Street through family friends Mrs elizabeth Heathcoat and her sister Altha who resided in the cathedral Close upon their arrival Jane and Cassandra settled into their lodgings historical accounts suggest that Jane and Cassandra occupied rooms on the middle floor of the house access to these rooms was via the front door and a staircase which has since been moved it would have originally come directly from the back of the green room where the radiator is positioned can also see it on this plan coming up from the ground floor and linking to the staircase that takes you to the second floor the remains can be seen on the open floorboard section the second floor was not available for viewing although there is no mention of its use I presume they were more rental rooms we can now tour the floor and rooms that Jane and Cassandra lived in for her final weeks the restoration workers revealed that the large L-shaped room was most likely three separate petitioned rooms during their stay in one of her last surviving letters dated May the 27th 1817 addressed to her nephew James Edward Austin Lee Jane provides a glimpse into their new surroundings she describes the accommodation as very comfortable we have a neat little drawing room with a bow window that overlooks Dr gabble’s garden this bow window a distinctive architectural feature remains a poignant visual link to her time here a detail preserved in her words and the enduring fabric of the house it is worth noting that the doors window frames and floorboards are all those that would have existed during her stay it is not known how many rooms on this floor they rented or where the bedrooms were located she likely spent many of her final days on a sofa positioned on the wall opposite the notable bow window adjacent to the fireplace her world contracted into the confines of her lodgings a single excursion outside the house is recorded once in May she was conveyed in a sedan chair a poignant image of her frailty the precise nature of her fatal illness remains one of literature’s enduring medical mysteries a subject of much retrospective debate and speculation with many believing she was suffering from Addison’s disease or Hodkdins lymphoma and most recently even lupus throughout Jane’s final arduous weeks in Winchester one final figure remained a constant her elder sister Cassandra jane herself in a letter from Winchester acknowledged Cassandra’s selfless dedication referring to her as her tender watchful inddehaticable nurse visitors included her sister-in-law Mary who helped with nursing her brothers and close friend Elizabeth Heathcoat her nephew Charles in his first year at the college also popped in this narrow rear room has been left incomplete from the restoration it is thought it might be the remaining parts of the 17th century house passing along the corridor it’s unclear if the remaining two rooms were part of the Austin’s accommodation it is quite possible that they were separate lodgings with a door at the stairway this room highlights more stories from the Austin nephew’s time at the college her brother Edward sent all six of his sons to Winchester edward took a very different path in life and was taken in by a wealthy couple he inherited the estate and changed his name tonight part of a clause in the will we have a very interesting video all about his life and the beautiful house he lived in just moments away from Jane’s Hampshire cottage in Chon to find out how Edward became pivotal in Jane’s life check out that video at the end this is William Stanley Godard in 1832 he was headmaster at the college from 1793 to 1810 and would have taught Edward Knight’s son Edward and his brother George this is a 19th century wooden scobb desk something each pupil would have had in their classroom various names are carved into the wood this portrait shows the old commoner’s court which was surrounded by dorms a dining hall and study rooms the name commoner highlights the group of 100 boys that attended the college paying their own fees 70 others were financially supported by the college known as scholars the small door on the right now bricked up in the 1860s during alterations led to accommodation for commoners the final room looks over the small back garden or yard the ship model made from bone and metal highlights the impact the Royal Navy and naval battles had on the Austin family indeed two of her brothers Francis and Charles served this influenced Jane’s writing featuring in Mansfield Park and Persuasion this watercolor is a view of the town of Alton which was very near to Jane’s Chon cottage if you subscribe to our channel then next week you can join us as we walk from Chon to Alton just as Jane would have to socialize shop and catch the stage coach to London 3 days before her death Jane dictated to Cassandra her last literary work a funny comic poem about the Winchester races which were held each July nearby you can pause the video to read it coming back downstairs the ground floor contains a room that runs a 6-minute video about the house and Jane’s last days then there is a gift shop that I think was probably some form of kitchen but again they’re not sure heading outside i assume the toilet for the house was in and out building there’s no reference made of it we arrive in the small garden which was listed as a yard on maps in the 1800s and we can look at the rear of the house jane’s last recorded words uttered the day before her death were reported as “God grant me patience pray for me oh pray for me.” Her clergymen brothers Henry and James had administered the service suitable for a Christian deathbed including presumably final prayers and communion jane Austin passed away in the early hours of Friday the 18th of July 1817 at the age of 41 her death occurred on the first floor of the house though the precise room remains uncertain she was held by her cherished sister as she died cassandra’s letters particularly those penned to her niece Fanny Knight in the immediate aftermath of Jane’s death provide the most intimate and moving accounts of this period cassandra’s profound grief is palpable in these communications she wrote to Fannie “I have lost a treasure such a sister such a friend as never can have been surpassed she was the son of my life the gilder of every pleasure the soother of every sorrow i had not a thought concealed from her and it is as if I had lost a part of myself.” Cassandra’s later decision to destroy many of Jane’s letters remains a point of contention amongst biographers but it undeniably positions her as a crucial if complex guardian of her sister’s personal legacy 6 days after her death on Thursday the 24th of July 1817 Jane’s body left the house to be laid to rest in Winchester Cathedral from the bow window a griefstricken Cassandra witnessed the somber small procession making its way down College Street it was customary then for women to be absent from funeral ceremonies the private almost muted nature of the farewell a stark contrast to the global recognition Jane Austin’s name would later command in 2017 on the bicesentenery of her funeral a commemorative event retraced this solemn journey from College Street to the Cathedral with the cathedral bells tolling 41 times one for each year of Jane’s life we are taking that walk now as we continue to use the walking trail leaflet back into the center there has been a book seller here since 1729 and the Austin family held an account when it was a gentleman’s book seller owned by John Burden jane wrote about books purchased from Burden it has since been known by many names but from 1871 PNG Wells it is Winchester’s oldest running retail business quite possibly the oldest book seller in the country this sketch of College Street from 1838 shows us how the street looked we can see the bow window at number eight and behind it is another from the Winchester College before the large alterations in the 1840s this postcard is from 1906 well after all the changes but notice a plaque that has been installed to show that Jane died here jane’s coffin passed through King’s Gate turning right ahead of the procession was the prior’s gate this took the coffin into the cathedral grounds at Dome Alley very little has changed in the appearance of this area once inside the cathedral close the coffin made its way inside the cathedral flanked by three of her brothers Edward Henry and Francis james was too ill to attend so his son James Edward represented him her death in the parish of St swan which had no churchyard entitled her to a burial on the cathedral grounds it is possible that Henry’s contact with the Dean chapter helped secure her a place within the cathedral she was interred in the north aisle of the nave the original ledger stone placed over her grave made no mention of her extraordinary literary achievements while Jane Austin experienced some success and favorable reviews during her life her novels achieved widespread fame only after her death several factors contributed to this initial lack of broad recognition she published anonymously her sales were limited the novel market was relatively small and her work different from the popular romantic and melodramatic styles of the era it was the postumous reception and appreciation of her writing that solidified her lasting literary reputation her public identity as a celebrated author was formerly acknowledged within the cathedral following the first biography written by her nephew James Edward Austin Lee son of her brother James from the proceeds he was able to buy a brass tablet installed near the grave stating that she was known to many by her writings and a memorial window and a wall-mounted plaque also added later further detail her literary contributions this evolution in her commemoration within the sacred space of the cathedral mirrors the gradual but inexraable growth of her literary fame and the changing societal perceptions of female authorship in September 2025 to mark the 250th anniversary of her birth a new statue of Jane beside her writing desk will be installed in the cathedral designed by Martin Jennings next week we’ll explore Jane Austin’s Alton the nearest town to her beloved Hampshire home in Chon this two-mile walking trail will follow a similar route to the one Jane walked and takes us to several buildings she frequented we’ll see the swan in from which she would have caught the stage coach to London visit her local apothecary William Curtis see the location of her brother’s bank and much more there is a special bonus in this video a close-up viewing of the traveling writing desk her father gave her on which she wrote many of the chapters of her novels it’s a remarkable and personal artifact that is hardly ever seen outside of the British Museum in London our visit will end at St nicholas’s Church to pay our respects at the graves of Jane’s mother and sister Cassandra make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss this fascinating and special video we have previously created several other engaging videos about Jane Austin which you can find in our playlist at the end of this video walking in Her Footsteps takes us back to 1775 and her birth in Steven following her early life and ventures in Bath and Southampton before arriving in Winchester for her untimely death Jane lived most of her life in Hampshire and the cottage lent to Jane her sister and mother is just as it was watch our room by room tour and find out about life in Chorton and see the incredible writing desk that she penned many of her novels on join us again next week for our second 250th anniversary video discovering more about the life of Jane Austin thank you for watching the Memory Seekers

As the world celebrates the 250th anniversary of her birth, we honour the immortal legacy of Jane Austen in the most intimate way imaginable. For the very first time in over two centuries, the doors to the house in Winchester where she spent her final weeks have been opened to the public, thanks to the hard work of Winchester College, which owns the property.

https://www.winchestercollege.org

See more Jane Austen videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7ZS1Ml0SItRGbJfMQoNn4JLirhayU1eb

This is a fleeting, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as this sacred space will only be accessible for three short months, and we are taking you on an exclusive, in-depth tour. Join us as we walk the rooms where one of literature’s greatest voices lived her final chapter, offering a poignant and deeply personal look into the life of the brilliant Jane Austen. This isn’t just a tour of a house; it’s a journey into the heart and mind of a genius during her most vulnerable moments. Prepare to be moved as we explore the story of a literary icon in a way she has never been seen before.
This video delves into the moving, final chapter of the life of Jane Austen, a story of courage, family, and the quiet fight against a creeping illness. We trace her difficult journey from the familiar comforts of her home in Chawton to the historic city of Winchester, a move made in the desperate hope of finding a cure. We piece together the story of her decline through her personal letters, contemporary accounts, and the very architecture of the house she came to inhabit.
This is a sensitive and respectful exploration of a period of her life often overshadowed by the dazzling success of her novels, providing a complete picture of the woman behind the witty and wonderful prose.

This video serves as your personal guide, ensuring you don’t miss a single, significant detail of this historic location.

Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey. If you were as moved by this story as we were, please consider liking the video, sharing your thoughts in the comments below, and subscribing for more deep dives into the lives of the people who shaped our world.

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00:00 Introduction
01:01 Jane Austen’s Winchester Trail
04:47 Winchester College Treasury
05:42 Austen College Connection
08:58 8 College St (Where she died)
10:18 Inside the house
13:22 Tour of Middle Floor and her illness
20:23 Jane Austen dies in the House
21:53 Jane Austen Funeral Route
24:49 Jane Austen Grave
26:51 Next Time Jane Austen’s Alton
27:45 More on Jane Austen

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