Overton

st. mary's church, overton

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Photo: St. Mary's Church, Overton.

James Austen began his clerical career in Overton as a curate of St. Mary's Church in the spring of 1790. It was whilst he was living here that he met his first wife, Anne Mathew. The couple married in March 1792 and lived briefly in Court Farm House in the town, before moving to Deane.

James continued as curate of St. Mary's until 1796 when the living was taken up by Mr William Harrison.

If you would like to learn more about the history of this church, you can read about it on the St Mary's Overton website here.

Photos: Public roads, Overton, Hampshire

laverstoke

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Laverstoke is the neighbouring village to Overton, and was the home of James Austen's first wife, Anne Mathew, when she returned to England from the West Indies as an adult. At the time the couple met in 1790,  she lived with her father, General Mathew at Laverstoke House. This was a large estate leased from the Portal family. 

The original house from the time of our novel has since been demolished but there is information about the history of Laverstoke Park on the Dicamillo website which you can access here.

st. nicholas church, freefolk

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Photo: St Nicholas Church, Freefolk, Hampshire.

This ancient little church is where James Austen and Anne Mathew married on 27th March 1792. The service was officiated by Reverend George Austen so it is highly likely that other members of the Austen family would have been in attendance too, as it is not far from Steventon.

When their daughter was born on 15th April 1793, she was also christened here as it was her grandparent's parish. Jane Anna Elizabeth Austen (known as Anna) was baptised on May 18th 1793. Her grandfather, General Mathew, was extremely generous in his distribution of money amongst the servants to celebrate the occasion. 

The church is no longer used for regular worship but still welcomes visitors to look around. The Churches Conservation Trust have produced a guidebook with lots of information about The Church of St Nicholas, Freefolk, which you can read here.

OVERTON extract

If you would like to read an extract from The Austens of Steventon, where the events happen in Overton, click here.