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Austen-inspired community craft project at The Vyne

A close up of Regency-inspired crochet crafts at The Vyne.
Take a look at the creative crafts on display at The Vyne. | © National Trust / Natasha Wright

Now on display, look out for a Regency community art installation in the Old Kitchen at The Vyne. Marking the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen, local residents helped create the display by painstakingly crafting crochet objects inspired by Austen.

Members of the public were invited to crochet or knit Austen and Regency-inspired items. We received some truly beautiful contributions, now proudly displayed in our Old Kitchen. We’re sure you’ll agree that they bring a much-needed splash of colour and charm to the space.


During your visit, be sure to keep an eye out for various crocheted items thoughtfully placed around the house — a delightful tribute to Austen’s enduring legacy and the creativity of her admirers.

Cream tea & talk: In conversation with... 

Sunday 7 September | Gates open 2.15pm | Cream tea 2.30-3.15pm | Talk 3.30-4.30pm. Enjoy a cream tea in the tea-room before joining Lizzie Dunford, Director for Jane Austen’s House, Chawton and Joy Pibworth, longstanding member of the Jane Austen Society as they discuss Britain’s best-loved Regency author in the house at The Vyne. Tickets £20.

The words 'In conversation with' are surrounded by a floral pattern.

Cream tea & talk: Layers of Jane 

Thursday 25 September | Gates open 2.15pm | Cream tea 2.30-3.15pm | Talk 3.30-4.30pm. From petticoats to pantaloons, chemise to shifts, following an indulgent cream tea in the Brewhouse tea-room, enjoy an interactive and irreverent presentation regarding Regency 'underpinnings' in the house. Tickets £20.

A cartoon of Jane Austen appears on a pale yellow background with a lace pattern across it and the words 'Layers of Jane' displayed on the right-hand side.

Theatre Performance: Twelve Hours 

Fri 26 Sep | Gates open 3pm | Performance 3.30-4.30pm: Back by popular demand, enjoy this one-woman performance imagining Jane Austen's thoughts and inner debates during an intense event in her life that is often overlooked. Tickets £20.

A sketch shows a regency lady with her back to the viewer encircled by a Roman numeral clockface and with a candlestick placed to her right at the bottom of the frame.

Things to do in The Vyne house 

The Sandys and Chute families made The Vyne their home for over 500 years. They accumulated beautiful and important objects and made significant changes to the house during their lives, which you will see as you explore the opulent state rooms and humble servants’ quarters. Marking 250 years since the birth of Jane Austen, you can enjoy a selection of events including exhibition 'Regency Revisited' and on select dates 'Jane Austen House Tours', Austen-inspired talks and a solo theatre performance. Read on for ticket prices and more information.

The staircase hall featuring delicate plasterwork and a balcony.

Regency Revisited - Celebrating Jane Austen 250 

Discover Jane Austen’s links to The Vyne, her views on the Chute family and what Regency life, and love, was like for those living here at the time. During your visit you can get up close to first editions of Austen's books, feast your eyes on beautiful Regency costume worn by members of the family, and learn more about Austen, her family connections to The Vyne, and what Regency life and love was like for those living here.

A pile of early-edition Jane Austen novels with pale white covers.

Jane Austen House Tours 

Wednesdays & Saturdays until 2 November, 2.30-3.30pm: Enjoy a 1-hour tour of the house and uncover an honest account of the family’s interactions with the celebrated Regency author. No pre-booking first come first serve. Purchase your tickets on arrival at Visitor Reception. Suggested donation £5 per person. Normal admission applies.

A house volunteer explains something to a visitor at The Vyne.

Jane Austen events at The Vyne in 2025 

As 2025 marks 250 years since the birth of Jane Austen, uncover Jane’s links to the family at The Vyne with exhibition Regency Revisited and biweekly tours of the house. On 7 September, don't miss 'In conversation with...', an indulgent cream tea followed by an exclusive talk with Austen experts Lizzie Dunford, Director for Jane Austen’s House, Chawton and Joy Pibworth, longstanding member of the Jane Austen Society. On 25 September, following a cream tea, enjoy an interactive and irreverent presentation called 'Layers of Jane' regarding Regency 'underpinnings'. Talk tickets £20. Back by popular demand, on 26 September don't miss solo performance 'Twelve Hours' exploring Austen's (very) short-lived engagement. Tickets £20. In the gardens, find three stunning book benches from much-loved public art trail 'Sitting with Jane'.

A bench in the shape of a book and specially decorated by an artist.