Jane Austen lived at Number 4 Sydney Place in Bath from the summer of 1801 until the summer of 1804, together with her parents, the Reverend George and Mrs. Austen, and Cassandra, her elder sister. I’ve written about it in the past and you can access those posts here and here.
It was then on the outskirts of Bath and was near to the Sydney Gardens where Jane enjoyed visiting the pleasure gardens, though she was not always too keen on the music performed there, as evidenced by this comment in her letter to Cassandra of the 2nd June 1799 ;)
There is to be a grand gala on Tuesday evening in Sydney Gardens-A concert with Illuminations and Fireworks; to the latter Elizabeth and I look forward with pleasure, and even the concert will have more than its usual charm with me, as the Gardens are large enough for me to get pretty well beyond the reach of its sound.
The garden to a house a few doors down from Number 4 is open to the public to visit on Saturday 19th may and again on the 1st July. So if you can manage to go you will get an idea of the type of garden the Austens would have enjoyed while they lived at Number 4, and also get a view of the rear of number 4 in the bargain.
The garden is opened to benefit a local charity, The Dorothy House Hospice Care, and all the details of how to ge to the garden plus opening times and price of entry can be accessed here. I do wish I could attend!
11 comments
May 10, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Jennifer
Thank you for reviving a painful memory. I’m so embarrassed I missed Sydney Gardens when in Bath, but I was only there a day and a half. We picked up our narrowboat very close to the gardens and floated by, but didn’t have enough time when we returned: too busy seeing the Assembly Rooms and the Roman Baths. (When we first booked our trip to England, I wasn’t yet a Janeite.)
Wait, isn’t the Holburne Museum there as well? There’s never enough time!
Grrr!
May 14, 2012 at 11:01 am
jfwakefield
Well I do hope Jen, that on your next trip you let me or someone else help with your itinerary ;) You need longer in Bath to appreciate its charms,and there is a LOT to see for someone interested in Georgian history and Jane Austen. I’ve spent months there over the years and I still haven’t seen everything I want to see yet.
The Holbourn Museum is indeed in the Sydney Gardens and has just reopened after a great refurbishment and the building of an extension.I’m looking forward to seeing it very soon ;)
May 10, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Jennifer
I just noticed; no blue plaque? I remember reading someplace (maybe here?) of the paucity of Austen plaques. openplaques.org list six plaques, but I don’t know if they’re all official: http://openplaques.org/people/2798
May 10, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Jennifer
Well, I should have remembered, blue plaques are officially just for London. and surrounding area. English Heritage tried to expand it, but I don’t think it got very far.
May 14, 2012 at 11:05 am
jfwakefield
The awarding of plaques is, as I understand it, the decision of each individual council (and sometimes organisations like English Heritage).Its all very piece meal. I do love the Bath plaques though- you can see the Sydney Place plaque for Jane Austen in the post above.They were, IIRC, a late Victorian/ Edwardian idea, and I love the design.
May 10, 2012 at 11:19 pm
cathyallen
What a lovely thing for the owners to do, especially since they have made an effort to have it be like it was in Jane Austen’s time. I hope they have a good turnout, and I, also, wish I could attend. I shall just have to imagine myself there. Thank you.
May 12, 2012 at 7:04 am
Anna
When I visited Sydney Place, the gardens were closed for renovation. :( Would love to see them, though! This must have been a lively place during Jane’s days.
I thought it was funny when I visited Sydney Place, the residents of the house had placed a large cardboard picture of Janewaving at the scores of visitors who come and have a look at he house from outside! They obviously have a good sense of humour :)
You can see that here:
http://austenised.blogspot.in/2010/08/visiting-jane-in-bath.html
May 14, 2012 at 11:12 am
jfwakefield
I hesitate to tell you…and do not beat me…but that figure in the window is actually not of Jane Austen, but is of Henrietta Laura Pulteney, who inherited large parts of Bath, and after whom Laura Place was named: go below to see Anglica Kaufman’s portrait of her, upon which that figure must have been based:
http://www.museumnetworkuk.org/portraits/artworks/holburne/img4.html
The last time I visited Bath there was a similar “cut out” figure in the windows of the basement to Gainsborough’s House in the Circus, showing the artist painting. Seems like a theme.I wonder if it was an officially sanctioned project ? Intriguing….
May 20, 2012 at 5:52 am
Anna
Enlightening! You must be right. I do wonder why this figure has been placed there, must have been a theme like you said…seems like a weird thing to have in one’s lounge!
May 22, 2012 at 10:05 am
jfwakefield
Yes, especially as you wound only see the plain back of the figure,and let’s face it, it encourages people to “peep” in, which I might find an unattractive part of living in Bath!
May 23, 2012 at 9:53 am
imogen88
Oh, I would love to see this place. Never mind, one day it will be. It looks great and to be at those gardens in those times would have been wonderful, probably better than the impression JA gives. But then again, maybe she was right, very witty comments she writes.