New details have been revealed for Reading’s celebration of Jane Austen, with Wednesdays in May and June earmarked for a series of special events.
This year marks the 250th anniversary of her birth, and there are global celebrations planned, focusing on Bath and Hampshire. But The Ding is where she went to school, and REDA is inviting people to join in their own celebrations.
The famous author, who created Sense and Sensibility, spent 18 months attending lessons in Reading when she, her elder sister Cassandra and cousin Jane took up residence at Reading Ladies Boarding School between the summer of 1785 and December 1786.
The school was in the Gateway building opposite what is now Forbury Gardens.
The author’s time there is also cited as the inspiration for Mrs Goddard’s School in Emma, her fourth published novel, and the last to be released during her lifetime.
To date, the location of Jane’s school has only been open for educational workshops focusing on the Victorian period for youngsters learning about that period of history.
Reading to hold Jane Austen walking tours on Saturdays from April
Bookings have now opened for the Official Abbey Quarter Tour, which start on Saturday, April 5, with every tour now featuring exclusive access to Jane Austen’s school.
The guided walking tours explore Reading’s Abbey Quarter, including the Hospitium where medieval pilgrims stayed and the impressive Reading Abbey Ruins.
MORE CHEESELOGS: Celebrate Jane Austen’s birthday with year of special events in Reading
For this year, as part of the 250th anniversary of Austen’s birth, the tour will also highlight the town’s links with the famous author and visit the Abbey Gateway, which was once part of the school where she studied and lived as a girl.
These tours cost £10 per person, the half hour tour will be staged every Saturday morning, starting at Reading Museum https://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/jane-austen-250-2025).
Reading Museum’s Austen Wednesdays
Reading Museum will also be staging a series of special events, tours and visits to the Abbey Gateway and Reading Abbey Quarter to tell the story of Jane’s connections to the town, as part of worldwide Jane Austen 250 celebrations – including Jane Austen Wednesdays throughout May and June.
Bookings have now opened for the series of five talks and a workshop ranging from ‘A Day in the Life of a Regency Lady’ to a workshop on natural ink making, experimenting with Austen’s own recipe for oak gall ink with which she penned her famous
The Wednesdays are:
- May 7: Talk: Jane Austen and the local connection
- May 14: Talk: A day in the life of a regency Lady
- May 21: Talk: Jane Austen 250 and the New Localism
- June 4: Workshop: Inspired by Nature – Natural Ink Making with Oak Galls
- June 11: Talk: Scrambling into a little education- the story of Jane Austen’s schooldays in Reading.
- June 18: Talk: The Georgian Dining Experience
Book at: https://www.readingmuseum.org.uk/jane-austen-250-2025
There’s more Jane Austen
Other highlights in the Reading Jane Austen programme during the year include visiting the National Trust’s Basildon Park – a location for 2005’s film of Pride & Prejudice – and a theatrical world premiere of Death Comes to Pemberley, a Jane Austen inspired show based on a PD James novel, at The Mill at Sonning, from May 1 through to June 28.
More information about all the Jane Austen anniversary events in Reading can be found at www.visit-reading.com/janeausten
And Jane Austen’s links with Bridget Jones
The new Bridget Jones film is out in cinemas this month.
It may surprise some people to learn that the original film … and indeed book by Helen Fielding is loosely based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. And the connection continues with the film.
Bridget Jones’ love interests include human rights lawyer Mark Darcey. In the 2001 film, he was played by Colin Firth. He also played the role of Mr Darcy in a 1995 BBC adaptation.
It can be seen on the iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b009016x/pride-and-prejudice
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