England Summer 2025, Day 8

Day 8 of the trip was a very special day for me. It was the day I got to tour 8 College Street in Winchester. (See the pics below.)

It’s the flat where Jane Austen lived during the last months of her life while she was undergoing treatment for a mysterious illness (possibly Addison’s Disease, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, or Lupus) that would eventually kill her. It’s like a scene out of a sad movie. Jane and her sister Cassandra moved from Chawton to Winchester in late May 1817 to seek medical care, and on July 18 Jane passed away in the arms of her sister. So it’s also the place where Jane Austen died. It’s ironic, or maybe not, that on the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, and a mere week before her death date, I visited 8 College St.

Upon Jane’s passing Cassandra wrote in a letter:

Cassy’s words always hit home for me. They remind me of my relationship with my sister. And I imagine my last moments will be similar to Jane’s. I’ll be in the arms of my beloved sister, and she’ll feel the same way Cassandra did.

Until 2025, 8 College Street remained in private hands and was not open to the public. Thankfully Winchester College recently decided to open the flat to tours for this summer (and just this summer, apparently). Before this July, I had visited Winchester two other times (2017, 2023) and walked by that apartment. I even sat outside across the street for a while in 2017 like some creeper and just stared at the building, imagining where the Austens lived in the building exactly. Turns out I was wrong. I thought they lived on the ground floor, but I learned on July 13 that they lived on the first floor–what Americans might call the second floor–of the building.

I got to tour the house on July 13 thanks to the wonderful Global Jane Austen Conference organizers who set up special tours for the conference goers. I will forever be grateful to them for this! I have visited every site where Jane Austen lived and most of the places she visited. The only place I haven’t been to is Godmersham Park. Now I got to visit her last residence and even experience the rooms where she resided.

I got to stand in front of the window she peered out of as she looked at the garden across the road. The window was open on July 13 (a warm day), yet the breeze blowing in was cool. Feeling that breeze meant the world to me because I imagined myself as Jane Austen standing there. I closed my eyes and just let my senses take it in.

When I opened my eyes, I realized I had been crying.

As many of you know, I have an affinity for Jane Austen beyond the enjoyment of her books. I have been in awe of the person (I should say historical subject) since I learned her life story, including how she rejected norms concerning marriage, how much she loved her sister, and how she died at what I’m gonna call a young age from illness. In 2018 when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer (the cells of which were not contained to the breast), I was 41. Jane died at 41. I vowed to outlive Jane in years, and I have, though I don’t know how much longer because breast cancer has now set up shop in my bones and liver.

So standing in front of that window was significant for me in a way beyond Austen. I was standing there as someone with metastatic cancer hoping treatment prolongs my life for a few more years. I imagined Jane standing there hoping the doctor’s treatment could prolong hers.

Sheesh, this blog post is getting heavy. OK. Enough of that.

I really enjoyed being inside 8 College Street, and I was honored to have witnessed a spontaneous musical event that happened when two of the conferenced goers played music for us! Yes, visitors were treated to piano playing and singing! They played tunes Austen played and sang. We know this from the family music books. It was so cool to be a part of this day in all its glory.

I had a hard time leaving 8 College Street. I guess there’s a part of me that feels like Jane’s spirit is still there. Plus, I knew it would be the last time I would go there, even though it was also the first time! It was bittersweet, as are most things.

After visiting 8 College Street, I ventured to meet up with my sister and niece who did not have tickets to tour the house. I stopped by P & G Wells Booksellers first. It’s two doors down from 8 College St. and Austen’s father years before she lived in Winchester had an account there. Of course I had to get a few things: a Pride and Prejudice 1995 paper dolls collection, a Sense and Sensibility luggage tag, and maybe one more thing? I love souvenirs, and I’m not ashamed of it.

After I left the gift shop, I met up with my family at Winchester Cathedral, where Jane Austen is buried. I have been there before, but it was cool to take Lacy and Kensington to the place where Jane is buried. I won’t get into the history of how Austen came to be buried in the cathedral. If you’re interested, check it out here. I’ll say this: it is an honor to visit in this gorgeous cathedral an author many fans worship. I was also excited to see a small exhibit there about Jane’s dear friend Anne Lefroy.

I also enjoyed the Winchester Cathedral gift shop. I got the best stuff there! Notice the cap! In a subsequent picture see the bear Kensington’s holding. I got one too plus a winter hat and a bag. I got a few souvenirs at the 8 College St. house, too.

Before I wrap up this post, I have to add that I visited some ruins in Winchester that I missed the first two times I went there. This is such a Austen thing to do! What is left of Wolvesey Castle sits tucked into a sweet little neighborhood near 8 College St. I really enjoyed walking around the grounds and walking next to the River Itchen.