Jane Austen’s Hidden Ties to Reading: 5 Surprising Facts

28th January 2025

When you think of Jane Austen, places like Hampshire and Bath probably come to mind. But did you know she also had many ties to Reading? From her school days to its vibrant history, Reading played a fascinating role in her life. Here are our favourite facts about Austen’s links with Reading and how this town shaped the beloved author we know today. 

Jane, her sister and cousin all went to school in Reading

When Jane was just nine years old, she spent 18 months at school in Reading. Based in the former Gateway of the medieval Reading Abbey, Reading Ladies Boarding School became home to Jane, her elder sister Cassandra and cousin Jane between the summer of 1785 and December 1786. The school, which overlooked the Forbury Gardens, taught the girls the usual 18th-century accomplishments such as sewing, spelling, French and music. Mr Austen paid 37 pounds 19 shillings per girl, per half year, for board, tuition, washing and dancing lessons.  

School was not compulsory for children in those days, but Jane was fortunate to have been born into a family where education was highly prized. However, the girls’ education swiftly came to an end after an exceptionally harsh winter as their father’s income derived from his farm. Late frosts and devastating blight severely affected his income. Find out more about Austen's time at Reading Ladies Boarding School here.

Reading’s Abbey Quarter is often cited as the inspiration for Mrs Goddard’s School in Emma

Within months of leaving Reading, Jane was writing seriously. It’s likely that her time in Reading inspired many aspects of her writing - the similarities between Reading Ladies Boarding School and Mrs Goddard’s School in Emma suggest its great influence on her. Austen describes it as “a real old-fashioned Boarding school, where a reasonable quantity of accomplishments were sold at a reasonable price, and where girls might be sent to be out of the way and scramble themselves into a little education, without any danger of coming back prodigies.”

Many of Jane Austen’s family lived in the villages around Reading 

One of these villages was Thames-side Sonning and so Reading was a logical choice as a schooling destination for her. Austen's aunt and uncle lived just near where the A4 is now, in a mansion called Scarletts, built on farmland at Hare Hatch, Wargrave. 

The 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice was filmed in Reading

© Alex Bailey Universal Pictures 2005

Basildon Park is a stunning Georgian mansion that served as a key filming location, used to represent the grand Pemberley estate, home of Mr. Darcy, played by Matthew Macfadyen. 

The mansion's elegant architecture and sprawling grounds perfectly captured the grandeur and beauty of the Darcy family home, a central setting in Jane Austen’s novel. The estate's interior added to the opulence of the Pemberly Estate, whereas the lush gardens and lake brought Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy’s romance to life.

The house and grounds are open to the public, so all Jane Austen fans can explore the stunning scenery, imagining themselves in the world of the story.

Incredibly, Basildon Park also has links to Austen’s father and aunt!

© National Trust Images/Andrew Butler

It’s been 250 years since the birth of Jane Austen...and there are loads of events in Reading to celebrate

To celebrate, take a guided visit to her old school in the restored Abbey Gateway on Saturdays from April to October 2025 as part of Reading Museum’s Abbey Quarter tours. In May and June 2025, try a Jane Austen Afternoon Tea at the 5-star Roseate Reading Hotel or attend one of Reading Museum’s series of special events on Wednesdays. These include talks, tours and workshops on food, fashion, writing and the regency period. Find out more about Jane Austen 250 events and Jane Austen’s time in Reading.