2025 marks this 250th anniversary of beloved author, Jane Austen. Austen was born on 16th December 1775 and this year celebrations will be happening all over the country, marking the places Austen lived, visited and wrote about. With so many fairytale locations and romantic destinations, we’re sharing Kent’s Jane Austen links and swooning over spots that even made it onto the pages of her most renowned novels.
The Historic Dockyard Chatham
Who knew that Jane Austen’s younger brother, Captain Charles Austen captained HMS Namur, the very ship that was discovered under the floor of the old Wheelwrights shop at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. Austen’s sister-in-law Fanny Palmer Austen actually lived onboard the warship with their two children. The ship can be seen on a visit to the Historic Dockyard Chatham with the original timbers and artefacts providing an insight into life in Austen’s time.
Godmersham Park
The Austen family had many connections to Kent. Her brother, Edward lived at the beautiful Godmersham Park in the countryside between Ashford and Canterbury. It is said that this stunning house, with its rolling grounds, folly and gardens, were an inspiration for Emma, Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park. While the house remains private, walking routes through the village and the surrounding Kent Downs National Landscape provide views of the stunning house and estate Jane Austen visited. With easy links to Godmersham with Stagecoach, you can even have a full Austen day out, hopping on the 1X bus and heading to the quaint village of Chilham, our next location.
Chilham Castle
Another historic house, Chilham Castle hosted Jane for dinner, and centuries later it played host to the BBC production crew for their adaptation of Emma. Set to open as an exciting luxury wellness destination, the Jacobean manor stands in the centre of the pretty Chilham village. Visitors to the village can soak up the views from the square and grab a few shots for Instagram before venturing down the hill to sensational Shepherd Neame pub, The Woolpack for fresh produce and local brews.
Goodnestone Park
Edward and his wife spent their early married life at another Kent manor house, Goodnestone Park. Living in a house on the estate, the couple regularly welcomed Jane, and it was following one of these visits that she put pen to paper and started to craft one of her most iconic works, Pride and Prejudice. Visit today and you’ll have the chance to stroll through the manicured gardens and meadows that surround that magnificent manor.
Ramsgate
Jane was recorded as being seen in Ramsgate in 1803, but it is likely she visited harbour town more than once. It is believed that the town of ‘Sanditon’, the eponymous title of her last unfinished novel, was based on Ramsgate. It was here that her favourite brother, Francis was stationed in the early 1800s, and in the mid-1800s the family connections continued as her nephew and great nephew established the Austen Brewery. While you won’t be able to find a pint of Austen’s best today, some of the owner’s descendants still live here today.
