Winchester College Celebrates Jane Austen with First Public Opening of No. 8 College Street

Work has recently been undertaken in the property to uncover some of the house’s Georgian features and original decorating schemes:

"We've had historic paint specialists in, and we've gone back through the layers," Dr Foster continued. "We're fairly certain that we've got the colours that the rooms were originally decorated in at the end of the 18th century and at the beginning of the 19th century."

The house features quotes from Jane’s final letters, which were written from the house, as well as exhibits telling the story of the history of the house and Jane’s time there.

The College expects to welcome c. 6,000 visitors to the house throughout June, July and August this year.

Alongside No. 8 College Street being opened, the College’s museum, Treasury, has opened an exhibition exploring the relationship between Austen and Winchester College, where eight of her nephews were educated between 1808 and 1830. The exhibits showcase life at Winchester College in the early 19th century, when her nephews were at the College and also when Austen lived at No. 8 College Street.

Highlights of the Treasury exhibition include first editions of Austen’s novels, a copy of Catherine Maria Fanshawe’s ‘Charade’ in Austen’s hand (a rare surviving example of Austen copying out the work of another writer), a copy in her brother James Edward’s handwriting of their father’s poem ‘Venta’ on Jane’s death, and much more.