Celebrating Jane Austen’s big 25-oh!
The carriages have left Bath after the first of our six-day parties marking 250 years since Jane Austen’s birth. As we start preparing for the next, the programme’s Creative Director, Dr. Gabrielle Malcolm, looks back on a fabulous gathering of ‘clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation.’
Gorgeous spring sunshine blessed us for the celebration of Jane Austen’s 250th Anniversary in April. The city of Bath glowed, flowers bloomed and visitors – many of them decked in Regency costume – smiled, danced and chatted their way through the week.
What better way to start on Day One than with the infectious enthusiasm of Professor John Mullan? His insight into Austen’s work is inspiring and illuminating. He entertained the audience with examples of Austen’s wit and humour and continued to discuss her work one-on-one with guests as he signed copies of his books. It was a session full of laughter and spirited conversation worthy of Austen.
The following day, Professor Jennie Batchelor opened proceedings with her talk about the original source material of the Lady’s Magazine from the 18-19th century. We know this was read and collected by Jane Austen and her sister Cassandra. It was one of their regular information sources and inspirations for fiction, histories, fashion and embroidery. Jennie was able to reunite with her fellow author of Jane Austen’s Embroidery, expert craftswoman Alison Larkin.
Alison led a workshop in the afternoon that saw visitors recreate Regency and Georgian embroidery designs, as worked by Austen and her sister. Further fashion history from Austen’s life was considered by author and historian Sarah Jane Downing, whose talk included detailed examples of Regency clothing.
In addition to domestic and fashion history, the anniversary events featured entertaining and informative talks about the culture and history of Bath during Austen’s lifetime. Dr Moira Rudolph explored the city with visitors, pointing out the intricacies of the architecture and the world occupied by Austen and her society. Dr Hillary Burlock, of the University of Liverpool, is a renowned expert on a subject extremely apt for Bath and the city’s heritage – the world of the Assembly Rooms. She explained their customs, significance and culture as enjoyed by Austen and the characters in her novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.
Combining in-depth historical research with Austen’s writing and letters was Gill Hornby, best-selling author of Godmersham Park, Miss Austen, and the forthcoming The Elopement. Gill calls the ‘beloved’ Kintbury rectory in Somerset home, a location closely related to the Austen family. The place inspired her fictionalized accounts of the Austen family circle in her series of novels. Gill was also able to offer her thoughts on the recent dramatization of Miss Austen (a BBC/PBS co-production). She also disclosed that she is working on a fourth novel about the family, and her other books have been optioned for television adaptations. That means we will be treated to a series of books and dramas about the Austen family circle.
You heard it here first, with Strictly Jane Austen!
Regency dances, hairstyles, clothing, pastimes and embroidery all transported the guests back to a simpler, more elegant time in the exquisite setting of the Gainsborough Bath Spa. As well as ‘taking the waters’ and relaxing in the naturally heated pools of the Spa, they enjoyed delicious fine dining and the hotel’s signature teatime experience.
Then, there was no better way to round off the celebratory springtime residence of Austen’s 250th anniversary than with an ‘in conversation’ experience with biographer Zoe Wheddon and Strictly Jane Austen creative director Dr Gabrielle Malcolm. Zoe has written two books covering the life stories of Martha Lloyd, Jane Austen’s ‘best friend’, and the Reverend George Austen, Jane’s beloved father who is buried in St Swithin’s Church in Bath.
George Austen is probably the greatest unsung hero of Austen’s life and her era. Zoe gave her heartfelt insight into how much George did for his family and his especially close and supportive relationship with his youngest, brilliant, daughter. He recognized her talent early, and Zoe’s research enables us to see the evidence of this. What George saved via his frugal household accounts allowed him to support his daughter’s modest expenditure for paper, quills and other stationery. He bought her now famous, beautiful writing slope for her 20th birthday. Their exchanges and conversations, as shown in the author’s letters, demonstrate how much effort he put into creating a family library at Steventon and encouraging his daughter’s creative pursuits. This included creating an upstairs study for Jane and Cassandra in the rectory.
Rounding things off, with bags stuffed with signed books and keepsakes and new friendships forged, it was universally acknowledged by all the guests that one visit to Bath to honour Jane Austen’s life and achievements was simply not enough! Fortunately, Strictly Jane Austen Tours will welcome more visitors in October and December 2025, and onwards with future annual celebratory residencies at the Gainsborough Spa Hotel in the heart of Bath.
