Jane Austen’s House in Hampshire has launched an exciting new suite of online experiences – Jane Austen’s House from Home – perfect for fans across the globe who can’t visit Jane Austen’s House in person.
Jane Austen’s novels have been a great source of comfort to many during this incredibly difficult year. Although the Museum, set in the house where Austen lived and completed all her novels, reopened to visitors since August, many have remained unable to visit. Now, as restrictions take hold again, Jane Austen’s House hopes to entertain and enlighten fans with Jane Austen’s House From Home this winter.
Virtual Tour Chawton Village Street Credit_ Pan 3Sixty & James Robinson
Accessible via the Jane Austen’s House website, Jane Austen’s House From Home will allow, for the first time, visitors to explore Jane Austen’s House virtually via a 360° tour. Fans will be transported to the picturesque red brick country cottage in the small Hampshire village of Chawton, where they can follow in Jane Austen’s footsteps, including visiting the small, unassuming 12-sided walnut table where she wrote and revised all her novels. This brand-new tour includes detailed information for each scene, and audio to bring the experience to life. The virtual tour was created by Pan 3Sixty Limited, working with illustrator James Robinson.
Not wanting to leave out younger visitors, also included in the Jane Austen’s House From Home suite is a 360° Cat’s Eye Audio Tour for families, allowing little ones to explore Jane Austen’s Garden under the expert guidance of the Museum cat!
Additionally, two virtual exhibitions are included in the suite: Jane Austen’s Artful Letters, exploring the importance of letters in Jane Austen’s life and work and A Choice Collection of Curiosities, a witty exploration of Jane Austen’s Teenage self and writings, through objects in the Museum collection.
And if you are looking to do some online Christmas shopping then you can even visit the online Gift Shop to sort presents for that Austen fan in your life.
Collections and Interpretation Manager Sophie Reynolds says:
Of course a visit to our Jane Austen’s House From Home does not replace the magic of a trip to the House itself, but we hope that it will keep our dedicated and passionate audience happy until they are ready and able to visit in person.
In addition to Jane Austen’s House From Home, fans are able to enjoy online events from Jane Austen’s House including the recently launched Austen Wednesdays series premiering monthly on YouTube and a virtual tea party hosted online in celebration of Jane Austen’s birthday on 16th December. For all events details, please visit: https://janeaustens.house/visit/whats-on/
The quote from Austen in her famous book Emma certainly rings true:
Ah! There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.
Jane Austen’s House From Home was made possible by the generous support of Art Fund.
Last updated: 4 November 2020
Jane Austen’s House, Chawton
