Letter from Chawton House
Volume I, Issue 2, December 2006
Sara Pengelly, newly promoted Head Gardener, reflects on
A summer spent in the walled garden…. It was an interesting summer, with many exciting events and visits. The walled garden has seen plenty of visitors, with garden open days, heritage open days and, in September, the official opening of the newlyrestored walled garden gates. A worn patch of grass developed on the main path with the number of people walking around the garden! Even though it was a very long, hot summer, we have been able to enjoy the bounty of the many different fruit and vegetables. It seems to have b been a great growing i season ffor all ll off the h old-fashioned ld f hi d varieties i i that h we have tried this year. There is something very special about being able watch day by day tiny vegetables growing into full grown edible crops, especially the courgettes with the most amazing flowers and the cucumbers which developed into being incredibly tasty. This means that we have been able to supply some of the freshly picked produce to the Greyfriar pub, and to Cassandra's Cup tea room. The harvest has also been used in house for lunches and evening g meals at various activities and events. The riot of colours from the vegetables and flowers, especially the Connecticut Field pumpkins and Turks Turban squashes has made it a very vibrant place. There is always an abundance of wildlife within the safety of the walls of the garden especially early in the morning, with lots of wanted and d unwanted d insects, i but b lluckily kil mainly i l wanted d ones this year. This is excellent news as the garden is organic, and we need as many ladybirds as possible to eat all the aphids. (The walled garden is also now fully licensed by the soil association.) After the first heavyy frosts the “half-long g Guernsey” y p parsnips p are now readyy to be dug g up p and the traditional Brussels sprouts should be ready to harvest in time for Christmas. The protection of the walled garden will continue to benefit the crops long into the winter months. All of this makes it a great place to be. If you have to work, what a place it is to work! I have thoroughly enjoyed my summer spent in the walled garden and eagerly await the next season to see what the garden will bring.
Sara Pengelly Head Gardener
JENNY AGUTTER & THE AMBACHE POLMEAR DUO: Jane Austen’s World We were delighted to welcome Jenny Agutter, Diana Ambache and Jeremy Polmear to Chawton House on 2 November. This was a new venture for us and proved to be a successful and very enjoyable evening. After a glittering Champagne reception in the Great Hall, some seventy guests walked down the candlelit drive to St Nicholas’ Nicholas Church, Church for a programme of music and words reflecting the manners, mores and music of the long eighteenth century. Commanding the church from the pulpit with a light touch and a wicked twinkle, Jenny Agutter read well-loved excerpts from Austen’s novels including Emma’s perception of Mr Elton and Mr Collins’ proposal, together with readings from Burney’s Evelina and Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, amongst others. A varied and exciting musical programme included works by Handel and Hasse, Bach, Purcell and Donizetti, together with pieces from musical contemporaries of Jane Austen, such as Cecilia Barthélemon, Jane Guest and Maria Hester Park. It was an elegant and witty evening and one we hope to repeat in 2007. Watch this space!
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS Every September thousands of fascinating buildings across Great Britain open their doors free of charge as part of Heritage Open Days. Days This year for the first time, time Chawton House participated on two, rather than one, of the four days. More than 1,000 people of all ages visited the house and gardens, all having a wonderful time. In addition to a tour of the house and a stroll through the estate, guests were entertained by the Hampshire Regency Dancers, splendid music from the Liss Band and carriage rides to J Jane Austen’s A t ’ H House and db back. k
There was Regency dressing up and dancing for children, quizzes and treasure trails and they loved the Regency toys and games that we were selling. The delicious homemade lunches and teas available in the Old Kitchen are always l very popular l on open d days. In 2007, we are planning our own open days during the summer months – details in the next issue of Letter from Chawton.
LECTURE &EVENT PROGRAMME 2007
Following the successful programme of lectures and events held during 2006, 2006 we are pleased to announce a new programme for 2007. Dr Julie Gammon’s eagerly awaited lecture Highwaymen, Smugglers and Hangings: Crime and Punishment in EighteenthCentury Hampshire will be rescheduled during 2007, although a specific date has yet to be finalised. Lecturers we are approaching for the second half of 2007 include Hugo Vickers, Helen Lefroy, Joanna Trollope, Victoria Glendinning Felicity James Glendinning, James, Dom Nicholas Seymour Seymour, Matthew Sheldon and Andrew Davies. Lecture tickets: £15.00 and £10.00 for Friends and students 6.30pm: Reception with complimentary wine and canapés 7.00pm: Lecture For more information, please contact Sara Moger on 01420 541010 or sara.moger@chawton.net
Thursday 18 January - Fellow’s Lecture: N t Wh Not Whatt Th They SSay B Butt H How Th They SSay It It: language and character in Jane Austen’s novels Professor Sandie Byrne Thursday 8 March - Fellow’s Lecture: Costume History and Women’s Tie-on Pockets Barbara Burman Thursday 26 April - Fellow’s Lecture: S Sense, Sensibility S ibilit and dM Maternal t l Impressions: I i Pregnancy in Jane Austen’s time Professor Clare Hanson Friday 15 June - Fellow’s Lecture: Thomas Bewick, Nature’s Engraver Jenny Uglow
Chawton House Library, Chawton, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1SJ T: 01420 541010 F: 01420 595900 E: info@chawton.net W:www.chawton.org Registered Charity No 1026921