Did Jane Austen visit Sevenoaks School?
As the world celebrates the 250 years since the birth of Jane Austen, we also celebrate her connections to Sevenoaks.
Most famously, Jane’s widowed great-grandmother was housekeeper to the Sevenoaks Schoolmaster, Elijah Fenton, in the early 1700s, with several of her sons attending the school.
But did you know that the Austens were a prominent family in Sevenoaks during Jane’s lifetime, and served on the school governing body for three generations?
“During the mid-eighteenth century…Sevenoaks was becoming the focal point – the headquarters, so to speak – of her paternal family,” writes Kent archivist Dr Mark Ballard.*
Sevenoaks was the Austen family headquarters, and Jane’s great-uncle Francis Austen lived at the Red House, still an impressive sight on the High Street today, now a solicitors. Francis hosted Jane and her family in 1788 when they stayed in the town.
Not far from the Red House was the Old House, owned by the Austen family for nearly 200 years, and today one of our boarding houses, Girls’ International House (GIH).
The Austens may not have been in residence at the Old House when Jane visited in 1788, but we can guess that she may have attended St Nicholas’ Church, opposite the school, and encountered the Sevenoaks scholars there. She might also have heard about the school from her uncle Francis in his capacity as governor.
But did Jane Austen ever cross the threshold of one of our school buildings? We have no idea! If you know, we would love to hear from you.
*The Austens’ Residences in Sevenoaks. Part I: A forgotten Austen property – The Old House, 18 High Street, Mark Ballard, The Jane Austen Society Report for 2022