Three Perfect Properties For Fans Of Jane Austen

From Pemberley and Mansfield Park, to Northanger and Donwell Abbey, the books of Jane Austen are awash with gorgeous homes – including homes so gorgeous that they can convince one to fall for their male rival out of longing for the estate (we’re looking at you Lizzie). While Chatsworth House (the filming location for the 2005 Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley) is very sadly not up for grabs, there are plenty of other properties perfect for lovers of Jane Austen’s books. 

The Perfect Properties For Jane Austen Fans

‘Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence’ – so reads the opening of Jane Austen’s Emma. When you have the perfect home to which to retreat, there is little left in this world that is able to distress or vex you. 

With the literary world flung into a frenzy by Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary, it is a truth universally acknowledged that you have to talk about dear old Jane at every given opportunity. And what better way to celebrate her posthumous birthday, than with a roundup of the best Jane Austen inspired properties?

Hyde Park Square, London (£6,950,000)

‘I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!’, proclaims Lizzie in Pride & Prejudice. She is certainly not alone in her love among Austen’s heroines. From the obsessive fangirling and flighty fantasies of Northanger Abbey’s Catherine to the poetic proclamations of Sense and Sensibility’s Marianne, the women of Jane Austen are certainly a literary-minded bunch. 

Ever dreamed of the moment in Beauty and the Beast when Belle is introduced to his extensive library? For those who have always longed for their very own library filled to the brim with leather bound books and ancient tomes, this property in Hyde Park Square might just make your dreams come true. 

It’s time to upgrade from your humble bookshelves to a 49 ft library – so you may now finally have enough space to properly store all those books which keep mysteriously piling up on your bedside table. With its very own patio, this library is the perfect place to get lost in a good book – or to impress Mr Darcy through the ‘improvement of [your] mind by extensive reading’. 

Becky Fatemi

Set within a Grade-II listed building on the northern end of Hyde Park Square, this apartment unfolds over 4,865 sqft. While it has been refurbished over the years, it retains preserved period pieces alongside more unique modern fixtures. With a 13-foot-high ceiling and original working fireplace, the reception certainly possesses Austen levels of grandeur. sothebysrealty.co.uk 

Bloomfield House, Bath (Prices from £4,700 for a 3-night weekend stay)

If you ever want to discover true Austen-mania, Bath is the perfect place to go. The former home of the literary icon – though she was never the city’s biggest fan – where better to feel like you’ve stepped straight into the pages of Austen’s novels?

Originally designed in the 1790s, when Austen herself was living in Bath, Bloomfield House is steeped in the very architectural style that characterized Austen’s world – symmetrical façades, sash windows, and elegant proportions. The Grade II listed property was built on the southern slopes of Bath and could easily be the backdrop for any good Austen-inspired period drama. 

Despite its recent 18 month restoration by Berkeley Place, Bloomfield House retains many of its regency era features to this day, from its stucco facades and wrought iron balconies, to the bow and sash windows. The parapets and tall facades are a hallmark of refined regency grandeur which continue to influence contemporary design. Berkeley Place also restored the original cornicing, moldings and stonework and installed a handcrafted Georgian style staircase so you can descend down the steps in a ballgown in true Jane Austen style. 

Berkeley Place also unblocked and restored five faux-painted windows which were originally built over in an attempt to evade the dreaded window tax of the Georgian period. They also carried out extensive gardening, transforming the grounds in a pastoral retreat – perfect for long thoughtful, love-lorn walks around your estate. bloomfieldhouse.co.uk

Manston House, Dorset (£4,975,000)

This Grade II listed house is the epitome of Georgian style. Like any good Austen-era home, Manston House celebrates symmetry and proportion above all, with living accommodation elegantly arranged around a magnificent reception hall. 

Having recently undergone a complete restoration by R Moulding Co, Manston House still retains many early 19th century qualities, including period fireplaces, window shutters and cornicing, while it has been enhanced by 21st century conveniences and comforts such as underfloor heating. 

Set in the heart of North Dorset within the triangle of Shaftesbury, Sturminster Newton and Blandford Forum, Manston House enjoys splendid views of unspoilt farmland and the River Stour. Located in a small hamlet, near to the neighbouring village of Child Okeford, this home is the perfect rural retreat for those who also love Lizzie’s long countryside walks. Don’t be perturbed by those who notice your skirts ruined by mud – there may be a Mr Darcy on hand to observe how your ‘fine eyes’ were ‘brightened by the exercise’. bluebookagency.com