Celebrating Jane Austen
Jane Austen 250th Anniversary
Early Life
Jane Austen was a beloved English novelist who is known around the world primarily for her six romantic novels: Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. Jane Austen's birth place is Steventon in Hampshire. She was born in 1775 as the seventh of eight children to Rev. and Mrs Austen, Jane spent her life between Bath, Winchester, Chawton and Southampton. Austen's work has been celebrated over the last 250 years, with many of her books having an award-winning film adaptation.
Career & Literature Success
Jane Austen started her creative activities during her childhood, where she was writing series' of stories and sketches to entertain her loved ones. During her teenage years she was writing full novels including Love and Friendship (1970), Lesley Castle (1792) and Lady Susan (1794). By the age of 20 years old she had written the early version of Sense and Sensibility, named Elinor and Marianne.
In 1797, Austen had completed writing First Impressions (later revised and published as Pride and Prejudice) and her father had offered the novel to a publisher but it was unfortunately rejected.
In 1801, the Austen family moved to Bath following Jane's father's retirement. He sadly passed away in 1805 so Jane, her mother and her sisters moved back to Hampshire and resided in Southampton. Whilst she attended glamorous balls and musical productions during her time in the cities, it was clear that she missed the countryside, her family home and her father. During this time she only completed one novel, The Watsons.
Three years after their move to Southampton, Jane's older brother offered Jane and her family a house on his estate in Chawton. This is where she was able to take the time to work on her existing and new novels including Elinor & Marianne (Sense and Sensibility), Pride & Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, The Elliots (Persuasion) and Susan (Northanger Abbey).
In the modern day Jane Austen is still globally known as one of the greatest romantic novelists and she is often ranked second only to Shakespeare. Her books are often studied in the classroom by students and have even been adapted into award-winning films and television series. In fact, this year marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen and her work and this is celebrated across all of Hampshire and worldwide!
Jane Austen at Oakley Hall
The manor house that is Oakley Hall Hotel today was built in 1795 by Wither Bramston. Austen, who was good friends of the Bramston family, visited the estate frequently and often attended their formal balls. Oakley Hall is even mentioned in Austen's letters to her older sister Cassandra. It's thought that the character Lady Bertram from Mansfield Park was inspired by Mrs Bramston!
From the moment you step through the doors to Oakley Hall, the original Georgian features of the property are immediately recognisable. Ornate fireplaces are dotted throughout, delicate parquet flooring is present in the Main House Bar and beautiful Georgian ceiling work (including coving, cornices and ceiling roses) can be seen at the top of the tall walls. The original mahogany Library will take you back through time as you become encompassed with hundreds of books written by the romantic classics.
Stays at Oakley Hall
When you stay at Oakley Hall, you will be walking in the footsteps of the Bramston family and even Austen herself. Our award-winning hotel offers you an exciting choice of packages to choose from for your overnight stay. If you're looking for an all inclusive stay our 'The Jane Austen Experience' package is the perfect choice for you as it includes a £45 food allowance, an overnight stay in a room or suite, a refreshing fully cooked English breakfast and tickets to Jane Austen's House in Chawton!
For those who want more flexibility to explore Hampshire, we also offer Bed & Breakfast and Room Only stays, so you can pop out at your leisure! Seasonal offers are also available at Oakley Hall, which you can find more about here.
Afternoon Tea Experience
There's no better way to celebrate the birthday of an English literary great than with a quintessential Afternoon Tea! Enjoy in the delights of warm fluffy scones served with clotted cream and jam, homemade sandwiches, a delicious selection of sweet treats and a cup of your favourite tea or coffee. You can even upgrade your Afternoon Tea experience to include a glass of English sparkling wine.
Jane Austen holds a special place in Hampshire's heart. From living in the county's beautiful countryside to the busy cities, Austen would have seen all that was on offer at the time. So this year in honour of the brilliant author, and with marking the 250th anniversary, we invite you to join us in celebration. Whether you want to attend one of the many fantastic events in and around the local area or if you'd just like to explore the area, there's something every Austen enthusiast to enjoy!
Celebrate with us!
2025 celebrates Jane Austen's 250th birthday and there are many exciting events being held across England in memory of her. Hampshire was home to Jane for many years, so we can honestly say that our county is one of the best spots to spend the celebrations!
Just 10 minutes down the road from Oakey Hall is the quaint village of Steventon which is where Jane was born and spent the first 25 years of her life. The village will be hosting a number of unique events throughout the year including a Words and Music Night with wine & canapés (8th June), a historical exhibition (selected weekends throughout July), a Jane Austen Country Fair (6th July) and a Flower Festival and Art Exhibition (Friday 11th - Sunday 13th July). More details can be found here.
The popular city of Southampton (30 miles from Oakley Hall), where Austen spent 4 years of her life, will be hosting numerous events throughout the year. The Southampton Tourist Guide have arranged a guided trail throughout the city 'In the Footsteps of Jane Austen' which will highlight the spots that she visited during her time there. You will also be able to book tickets at the Mayflower Theatre to watch the show 'Pride and Prejudice *(*sort of)' which is a unique and entertaining production retelling Austen's iconic love story.
Jane Austen's House in Chawton (19 miles from Oakley Hall Hotel) was where Jane lived and wrote most of her novels. The house is now open to the public to visit and hosts unique events throughout the year. From Regency themed creative workshops and Dress Up Days to Chawton Village Walks and educational talks. In fact, our 'The Jane Austen Experience' overnight package includes tickets to Jane Austen's House!
There are so many ways to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen this year!