featured last night on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow programme.
This was the second programme filmed in Winchester Cathedral, and of course, it is in Winchester Cathedral that Jane Austen is buried.
Last night the programme’s presenter, Fiona Bruce, made mention of the pilgrimages that centre on Winchester. People still flock to the cathedral to see the shrines of ancient kings and saints,
but also to pay special literary pilgrimages to Jane Austen’s memorial plaque and window, above, and her tomb, below.
She gave a brief overview of Jane Austen’s life and works and then led us to the house in College Street, just outside the cathedral close…
where Jane Austen died in 1817.
Unexpectedly, we were then taken inside the house, to the room on the first floor where Jane Austen died.
This is the first time I have seen inside this house and it quite took me aback, I freely confess.
It is of course a private house at the moment and is not open to the public, so this was an extraordinary thing to have seen.
During the programme, Louise West, Curator of the Jane Austen’s House Museum bought Martha Lloyd’s cookery book to the Roadshow for an expert, in this case, Justin Croft, to appreciate and to value. Martha Lloyd was, of course, a lifelong friend of the Austen ladies and was sister to James Austen’s second wife, Mary. She eventually married Jane Austen’s brother, Frank Austen, in 1828.
We were shown some glimpses of some of the pages in the book..The Table of Contents with recipes for Pound Cake and White Custard,
and A Good Salve for Sore Lips
Louise pointed out that while it was not written by Jane Austen, its association could not have been closer , for these were the recipes she ate nearly every day at Chawton Cottage, during the last eight years of he life, and while Martha was in the kitchen making ink from this recipe in her book, below,
Jane was using it, writing and revising her books in the dining room of the same house, on the writing table we can still see there today.
The book was eventually valued at between £15-20,000 but as Louise rightly pointed out, it was priceless to the Museum and would never be sold. Oh, for a facsimile edition!
The programme is available to view for the next six days on the BBC I Player, or if you go here. I do hope you enjoy this fascinating part of the programme.
22 comments
May 2, 2011 at 12:32 pm
imogen88
An interesting and emotional post. It does feel strange to see the inside of this place, and I can well imagine you had mixed feelings on seeing it on the show. I don’t know if this episode will come here, but will look out for it. Uplifting to see the cookbook, and it must be full of interesting things. Thank you, ever, Julie.
May 2, 2011 at 7:01 pm
jfwakefield
I felt unexpectedly emotional when I realised where Fiona Bruce was taking us…a very strange sensation indeed. I do hope you get to see this episode, Moni. Some fascinating items as well as Martha’s book.
May 3, 2011 at 3:47 am
imogen88
Stephen Moore from Antiques Roadshow said (tweeted) apparently there was some record viewing audience to that programme. I am not surprised. I can imagine it was very emotional. As always, meaningful posts here, Julie.
May 4, 2011 at 9:02 am
jfwakefield
I knew before Christmas that Louise West had taken Martha Lloyd’s cook book to the Winchester Roadshow, and so I was expecting that: the tribute to Jane Austen took me quite unawares!
May 5, 2011 at 10:30 am
imogen88
Totally understandable!
May 2, 2011 at 4:28 pm
Anna
Wow! How fascinating to see inside the house. I wish the programme was available where I live.
Hope they never get round to selling Martha’s cookbook – like you said, it’s priceless and carries a lot of information on Jane’s everyday life at the cottage.
May 2, 2011 at 7:02 pm
jfwakefield
Oh,I’m very sure it will never be sold, just adequately insured;)
It was very interesting to see that room, I agree Anna. I hope you get to see the whole programme one day.
May 2, 2011 at 7:19 pm
Jenny Allworthy
Do you think we could convince them to print out the recipes and sell a recipe book? Surely it would be a good fundraiser for the Jane Austen’s House Museum.
What do you think? I hope this comes on my BBC Canada station eventually. Or You Tube!
May 2, 2011 at 8:06 pm
jfwakefield
There is still in print the Jane Austen Cook Book by Maggie Black and Dierdre Le Faye, and A Jane Austen Household Book,By Peggy Hickman, out of print, which have recipes from Martha’s book,with modern equivalents for ease of translation. But I’d love a facsimile, as I don’t want anyone elses interpretation. I’m picky, I suppose.
I do hope you get to see this in Canada, Jenny.
May 2, 2011 at 7:49 pm
Beth Cretaro
Thank you for posting this…remembering fondly our long walk to the Cathedral with our own floral tribute to “our Jane.” The flood of emotions when seeing her tomb…your sweet reply to me on how being there always affects you, no matter how often you visit.
A sweet report on a timeless treasure.
May 2, 2011 at 8:11 pm
jfwakefield
Beth! how lovely to “see” you here. I remember that day so clearly, our own special trip with those deceptively heavy flowers! I was so grateful to you, as you did all the heavy work and the carrying.
The grave always does affect me, no matter how many times I visit it, and seeing this room was quite the shock to my system.
May 2, 2011 at 10:59 pm
Cathy Allen
Oh my goodness! Just reading about this had me close to tears! I think I would have broken down had I been there watching it — I can see how it would have been quite a bit of a shock for you. I can now picture Cassandra being left behind in that little room, and, because she was a woman, not even able to go the the funeral. I repeat: Oh my goodness! I may (or may NOT) watch it on the link. Thanks, Julie,
CEA
May 4, 2011 at 9:00 am
jfwakefield
Exactly, Cathy- that is just what entered my mind when we were shown the room.Never having seen it before I didn’t expect the programme to go there,as the house is not open to teh public. The BBC must have mighty powers of persuasion
May 3, 2011 at 9:03 am
De kamer waar Jane Austen stierf — JaneAusten.nl
[...] verbleef en zonder resultaat behandeld werd voor haar ziekte. Zij overleed daar op 18 juli 1817. De website Austenonly heeft een aantal interessante screenshots van de uitzending online [...]
May 4, 2011 at 7:45 pm
ragdoll1951
One hopes someday to have the time to travel thoughtfully through the locations and devotional places Jane Austen’s life journey passed through; and then finally, rested in.
Thanks Julie!
Christy
May 4, 2011 at 8:01 pm
jfwakefield
I have been lucky enough to have visited most places associated with Jane Austen, sometimes by myself, sometimes in the company of a few people, then quite a lot. I prefer visiting them with one or two like minded souls, I must admit;)
May 4, 2011 at 9:47 pm
Caitlin
The room is so filled with light, which I find comforting in a way. Am I remembering correctly that she was doing a bit of writing while she was there – maybe some of her prayers and things for her nieces and nephews?
May 5, 2011 at 9:46 am
jfwakefield
She lived in the house in College Street from 24th May until her death on the 18th July. While there she wrote letters to Miss Sharpe, Edward Austen Knights children’s governess, her nephew, James Edward Austen Leigh and her friend Mrs Tilson and also of course dictated the infamous peom,When Winchester Races to Cassandra on the 15th July.;)
May 5, 2011 at 11:51 pm
Caitlin
Thank you – now I remember, and I remember that post, and how wonderful it was to see her humor and playfulness stayed with her till the end.
May 9, 2011 at 8:35 am
jfwakefield
Absolutely!
May 6, 2011 at 9:28 pm
Nicola
Oh, thank you so much for letting us know about this, I must watch it. I understand how emotional it is for us Austen devotees to see the room where she died.
May 9, 2011 at 8:47 am
jfwakefield
I was totally surprised how taken aback I was by it ,Nicola. I think the totally unexpected nature of the visit to that room- I was expecting to see only the outside facade of the house in College street – added to it!