2017 was the bi-centenary of the death of Jane Austen and a group of heritage organisations in Southampton decided to re-assess the time that she spent in Southampton.
It might be imagined that there is nothing to discover about the life of such a well known writer, but a search through the Southampton Archives found a number of documents relating to her Austen relations who lived in the town.
This research was used in plays, for tours around the town, for talks and study days and a new publication about Jane Austen in Southampton.
Burgess record entry
Frances Butler Harrison Butler Harrison Archive SRO D/Z/676 Southampton Record Office
Signature of Harriet Austen, appended to the 1819 lease agreement for her property in Hanover Buildings, Southampton
Recent publications about the life of Jane Austen in Southampton which drew on original source material held at Southampton Archives & Museums, Southampton University Special Collections, Hampshire Record Office, Private archives and other repositories
Southampton Burgess Admission for the Rev William Austen Southampton Record Office SRO SC3/1/3