Did you know that today marks the 241st anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen?

Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775. For Americans we don’t have to think too hard to know what was happening in history at that time. Exactly two years before her birth there was a very well know tea party in Boston and just over 7 months later the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia. In England King George III was on the throne and his troops were in America trying to put down a rebellion.

The Revolutionary War was not over until 1783 when Jane was 7.

Jane Austen was born in Steventon where her father was the rector of the church. The church is still standing, but the rectory where Jane was born was demolished shortly after her death.

I visited Steventon last January while working in England and took a few pictures of the church building. Unfortunately it was very wet and I was not able to explore as much as I wanted.

Earlier in the day I had stopped by the Jane Austen’s House Museum in Chawton where Jane lived during the time when her works were published. Unfortunately the museum was not open so I was not able to take a tour.

I did get some nice pictures of the outside though 🙂

This also reminds me of a post that I wrote long ago titled A Janeite Journey. I had not thought of this post for some time, but remembered it today.

You can also read a bit more about my visit last January in my post Jane Austen Country.

Steven