ibthorpe house

This was where Mrs Lloyd and her two daughters moved to in the Spring of 1793, when James Austen moved into the rectory at Deane. Their home, Ibthorpe House, can just be seen behind the blossoming tree in the picture below. 

It is a private residence today and cannot be visited, but there is a listing for Ibthorpe House on the Parks and Gardens website here.

Photos: Public roads, Ibthorpe, Hampshire.

Jane and Cassandra Austen came to stay here many times and attended balls in the local area. It is a very pretty and peaceful little place, which would have seen the ladies ambling around the lanes on their many country walks.

st.peter's church, Hurstbourne Tarrant

Map

Photos: St. Peter's Church, Hurstbourne Tarrant.

Hurstbourne Tarrant is the neighbouring village to Ibthorpe, and the church of St. Peters is where the Lloyd ladies and their guests would have worshipped each week.

On 17th January, 1797, this was also where James Austen and Mary Lloyd were married by the Reverend P. Debary and witnessed by Fulwar Fowle and Martha Lloyd. On their 15th wedding anniversary in 1812, James wrote a romantic poem to his wife to remember this day when he was 'given, on Earth, the last, best gift of Heaven.' 

If you trace their footsteps through the village to reach the church, you will pass by these lovely, picturesque sights.

Photos: Public roads, Hurstbourne Tarrant.

There is an abundance of information on the Hurstbourne Tarrant website including local history, old photos and videos from the past. 

You can find the link here to discover more about the two villages of Ibthorpe and Hurstbourne Tarrant and the people who lived there.

ibthorpe extract

If you would like to read an extract from The Austens of Steventon, where events take place in Ibthorpe, click here.

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