Chawton Walk on 14th June 2023

Kathryn and Geoff led the 5.5 mile walk following some of the footsteps of Jane Austen and her family starting in Chawton, Hampshire. Passing a duck themed thatched roof we turned down the drive to Chawton House, the 400-year-old Grade II* listed Elizabethan manor house that once belonged to Jane Austen's brother and its neighbour, St Nicholas' Church. The church suffered a disastrous fire in 1871 which destroyed all but the chancel. The rebuilt church was designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield and is now listed Grade 2*. The churchyard graves include that of Jane Austen's mother and sister, both called Cassandra The heat and sun was braved by all as we crossed the meadows and fields, enjoying the brief respites afforded by the woodland heading to Farringdon. An early coffee stop in the Farringdon communal garden spurred on the gardeners amongst us on and elicited a solo impromptu fairy dance on the way out. Reminiscences of standing in the hollowed centres of the ancient hallowed Yew in All Saints churchyard were mixed with debates about the uses for Massey's Folly, an imposing but eccentric building with towers and battlements built by another curate of Farringdon, Rev. T.H. Massey. We admired the commemoration tree and round seat for King Charles III coronation. A circuit of the picturesque village of Upper Farrington brought us back to our coffee stop where we turned west, over the main road, down the steep steps onto the disused Meon Valley Railway that was opened in 1903 and closed in 1968. We walked under a bridge, across fields and copse, over the main road again to return to Chawton to enjoy a well earned lunch and refreshments at The Greyfriar.