This is a map of Bath as it was in 1803 from my copy of  John Feltham’s Guide to all the Watering and Sea-Bathing Places etc, of that year, and I have annotated with the locations of places very much associated with Jane Austen-and ones that we shall be visiting over the next few days. You can, as ever, click on the map to enlarge it.

They are as follows:

1. Walcot Church

2. Queen’s Square

3. The Paragon

4. Sydney Place

5. Green Park Buildings

6. Gay Street

7. Trim Street

8. Great Pultney Street

Jane Austen lived in Bath from 1801-1806. During this time  her father had died and was buried there and the Austen ladies - Cassandra, Mrs Austen and Jane- had begun to realise exactly what living as quite poor, dependant, unmarried and widowed women meant  in the early 19th century…Her intimate know ledge of Bath was  used to great effect in her novels Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, where Bath is a  ’character” of the novels in its own right.  Eventually  in 1806 the Austen ladies left bath, visited nearby Clifton and took a summer tour of relatives in Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire before settling in Southampton.

Prior to  settling in the city  in 1801 Jane Austen had visited Bath, staying at Queen’s Square and it is there that we will begin our tour of Austen related sites in Bath in the next post. Do join me, won’t you?