A Jane Austen Pilgrimage

Since it is the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen's novel Pride And Prejudice, I thought I should take at least a day out for pilgrimage. We live next door to Hampshire and Chawton where Jane's house has been turned into a museum is not far down the road. Chawton is well known, but not many people know that Jane is actually buried in the North aisle of Winchester Cathedral - where you can literally walk over her bones.

In fact there is not just one memorial to Jane - but three. The second is this brass wall plaque installed after her death and it is located near her grave-stone.

Above the memorial, you will also see a window in her honour. While you are in Winchester Cathedral, don't miss out on seeing an autograph poem by Jane in the library above the south transept. There are a number of Jane Austen related events being put on at the cathedral this year - including Tea with Miss Austen on 16 March 2013 - do see what is on offer by clicking here. Not far from Winchester is the pleasant town of Alton, where you can see the buildings that once were the a branch of Henry Austen's bank - who was Jane's brother. Below you can see a rare note issued by his bank.