Chawton House | |
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Location | Chawton, England |
Coordinates | 51°07′42″N 0°59′17″W / 51.128305475522914°N 0.988142492436439°W |
Chawton House is a Grade II* listed manor house in Hampshire on the South side of Chawton village, and the present building was started in 1580.
In the late 18th century it was the home of Edward Austen Knight a wealthy brother of the novelist Jane Austen.[1] Into the late 20th century, it remained in private ownership. It was then purchased by a charitable trust, extensively restored, and opened as a research centre.
The centre runs study programmes in association with the nearby University of Southampton. [2] a collection of over 9000 books and related manuscripts. It also houses the research library of The Centre for the Study of Early Women's Writing, 1600–1830.[3]
The house is open to visitors and library readers, for tours and during public events.[4] The surrounding parkland to the south of the house is open at all times to walkers and nourishes a herd of sheep.