Latest news with #HampshireRegencyDancers
ITV News
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Jane Austen fans dress up in Steventon to celebrate 250 years since author's birth
ITV reporter Derek Johnson spoke to Austen fans who'd travelled to Hampshire from across the world. People from all over the world have converged on the village of Steventon to celebrate the life of author Jane Austen. The Pride and Prejudice author was born and grew up in this picturesque part of Hampshire, later returning to live in nearby Chawton. Today saw a Regency-style country fair marking the 250th anniversary of her birth. Austen was born at Stevenage rectory in 1775. Her father, and later her brother, were rectors at 13th Century church of St Nicholas. And proceeds from the day will go towards renovations at the church. Although the rectory no longer remains, the fair was held on the exact location, and featured performances by the Hampshire Regency Dancers, Garston Gallopers and local schoolchildren. Many of those attending dressed in Regency-style clothes, some travelling from as far afield as the United States and Australia. Village residents were involved in planning and organising the event, from baking cakes, making costumes and providing a horse and trap, in which 'Jane' arrived to get the fair started. The event was part of a year of celebrations in mid Hampshire, which will conclude with a special service at the church on 16th December, Austen's actual birthday.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
How Jane Austen's home village is celebrating her 250th birthday
With its quaint cottages, narrow country lanes and acres of farmland, it is easy to believe little has changed in the Hampshire village of Steventon since Jane Austen was born there 250 years celebrated author spent the first 25 years of her life in the village, which her nephew once described as "the cradle of her genius".Austen's experiences there influenced her witty writing about love, marriage and money. It is where she produced the first drafts of her novels Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Northanger mark the anniversary of her birth, the village is staging a Regency-themed Jane Austen Country Fair on Sunday 4 July. The country fair is being held in the field where Jane Austen's home, Steventon Rectory, once stood. It was demolished in 1824. All that remains is the well that provided water to the house and a lime tree planted by Jane's brother, sold-out event will feature performances by the Hampshire Regency Dancers and Mayfly Morris, demonstrations of country arts and crafts, Jane Austen-themed talks and performances and traditional sideshows and stalls."We started talking about the country fair 18 months ago, and thought of it as like the village fete on steroids," said Tamsin Raymond, who chairs the organising committee."So we started off at that level and then with the amount of interest from the public and the Jane Austen fans, the whole thing has just taken off, which is great for the village and great for Jane Austen." Many of Steventon's 250 residents have been involved in planning and organising the event, from baking cakes and making bunting to arranging the delivery of portable Cheesman has created an artwork showing places in the village associated with Jane Austen, which will appear on the official tea Palmer has helped to find sponsors for the country fair, which is raising funds towards the renovation of the 13th Century church of St Nicholas, where Austen worshipped and where both her father and brother were rector."Jane Austen is a titan of English literature, and the fact that Steventon is where it all began is something as a village we're all immensely proud of," he said. Churchwarden Marilyn Wright gives regular tours to groups of overseas visitors, who can also enjoy tea and cake in the village hall, prepared by local volunteers, in exchange for a donation to the church visitor book shows people have recently travelled to Steventon from as far afield as Iceland, Ghana, the US and Australia - a testament to Austen's global popularity."I think Jane's writing drew inspiration from all the people in the village," said Marilyn. "There are still characters here, and you can imagine her now walking through the village and choosing those characters to put into her novels!"The country fair is the centrepiece of a year of celebrations in Steventon, which will conclude with a special service at the church on 16 December, Austen's actual birthday. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
