“Whenever I passed the house, I put my hand on the front door. Now I knocked on the door and... I was actually let inside.”
Tour guide and creator of “Austen Tales” José Roeken, shares details from a recent excursion to the house on 8 College Street in Winchester, where Jane Austen lived out her last days.
For years I have been traveling from the Netherlands to Winchester to study or gone as a tour guide who follows in the footsteps of my great heroine Jane Austen. She died at 8 College Street on July 17, 1817. Even though she only stayed there for two months and was very ill, Winchester is inextricably linked to her life.
The rear entrance to 8 College Street, Winchester
It was a special experience to step into the house. I was quite emotional, but also very curious about what it would feel like to stand in the room where she took her last breath. On the ground floor of the house, a film was shown which contained information about Jane Austen’s final days and her subsequent funeral at Winchester Cathedral.
Details included:
July 15
Jane Austen wrote a comic poem about the annual Winchester horse races.
July 15 (In the Evening)
Cassandra wrote that Jane was suddenly more asleep than awake. Her facial features changed, and she fell away every time.
“Then I had no hope, and I knew that I was going to lose her very quickly."
July 17
Jane Austen had a seizure and laid unconscious afterwards.
July 18
At four o'clock in the morning, Jane Austen died with her head on a pillow that was settled onto Cassandra's lap. Sister-in-law Mary Austen was also present and wrote about the event in her diary.
Jane was then laid out in an open coffin for the family to say goodbye.
July 24 (Funeral Procession)
Jane Austen’s male relatives Edward, Frances, Henry and James Edward accompanied her body to the resting place in the Winchester Cathedral. Women, including Cassandra and Mary, were not allowed to attend funerals.
Cassandra watched the funeral procession from the bow window and wrote about the experience later to her niece Fanny Knight.
“Everything went on with the greatest calm, and if I was not determined to see the latter, and therefore was only the listener, I should not have known when they left the house. I looked at the little mournful procession all the way down the street, and when it disappeared from my sight, and I had lost it forever—even then I was not overpowered, nor as upset as I am now, to write about it. Never has a human being been more sincerely mourned by those who accompanied her remains than this dear creature."
Jane Austen was buried early in the morning because all services were held before 10:00 a.m.
Family members arranged for her to be buried in the cathedral. Because of their social standing, as well as having connections with the dean and the clergy, she was given a place in the cathedral.
Jane’s brother Henry Austen wrote the text that later appeared on the grave, but it does not say that she was an author.
When I stood in the room in front of the bow window just like Cassandra did all those years ago and looked onto College Street, I imagined what it must have been like for her. What sadness she must have felt to see her beloved sister being carried away! I understood the emotion that Cassandra expressed in the letter to Fanny Knight.
"I have lost a treasure, such a Sister, such a friend as never can have been surpassed. She was the sun of my life, the gilder of every pleasure, the soother of every sorrow; I had not a thought concealed from her, and it is as if a part of oneself had been lost".
The spaces in 8 College Street are deliberately unfurnished so as not to make it seem too contrived. I liked that because now I could make an image in my head. For example, I could see from the floorboards how the rooms used to be laid out and how time influenced the functions that the house had. There were also rooms with interesting information about the history of the house and the owners such as the man from the candy store and teachers from Winchester College.
It was a unique experience to be in the rooms where one of England's most beloved writers spent her last moments. Visiting the house provided a source of inspiration and an addition to what I already knew of the last weeks of Austen's life. The volunteers on staff were helpful and answered all my questions without fail.
Tributes and reflections left by visitors at 8 College Street
For those interested in visiting this site and seeing the house for themselves, the tours are currently sold out and, as of now, there are no future tickets available. With people travelling from around the world to see this precious site, we hope that Winchester College will open it again soon.
José Roeken
José Roeken has been fascinated by the life and work of the English writer Jane Austen for many years. After attending a summer course entitled “Jane Austen's England” at King's College London, she decided to found “Austen Tales” to share her passion with others. Since then, she has been giving lectures, presentations and courses on “All Things Austen,” including showing clips of TV and film adaptations made about Jane Austen and her novels. Since 2019, Roeken has guided trips to the South of England to follow in Jane Austen’s footsteps, in collaboration with Ingrid Casteels of The British Experience. To learn more about Roeken’s adventures, visit www.austentales.nl.
Our Community in September
Come join our community this month as we dive into Stephanie Barron’s Jane and The Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor, a delightful mystery that turns Jane Austen herself into an extraordinary sleuth!
On a visit to the estate of her friend, the young and beautiful Isobel Payne, Countess of Scargrave, Jane bears witness to a tragedy.
join us as we read from this charming and witty series of fictional mysteries solved by Jane Austen.
Our August Book Club pick, Loving Miss Tilney by Heather Moll, has brought us a beautiful Northanger Abbey–inspired story of forbidden love, resilience, and hope. We can’t wait to gather and share our thoughts together!
✨ When: Saturday, September 13th
🕒 Time: 3 PM EST
💻 Where: On Zoom
Whether you’ve finished the book or are still making your way through it, you’re warmly welcome to join the conversation.
Did you know that 161 letters written by Jane Austen survive today?
Whilst many are available to read online, there’s nothing like hearing them beautifully narrated.
As a subscriber, you’ll also receive our monthly Letter from Jane, a charming note narrated by award-winning audiobook narrators.
Hear Jane Austen’s words come to life like never before, adding a touch of Regency magic to your month.