country home of the leigh-perrots

hare hatch

where scarlets is located

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Hare Hatch was home to Scarlets, the grand residence of the Leigh-Perrots.

This was a large country house with a big estate, and the original house still stands today, much modernised. 

The historic connection to Jane Austen is not forgotten, and you can get a feel for what it looked like in an article written for the Country and Townhouse website, entitled 'Fancy Living in the Home of Jane Austen's Most Scandalous Relatives?'. Read it here.

Mr Leigh-Perrot purchased Scarlets in 1764 when he married, and he and his wife spent their time alternating between here and their townhouse in Bath.

When Mrs Leigh-Perrot died in 1836, the estate passed on to her great-nephew, James Edward Austen, on condition that he add the surname Leigh to his name. He therefore became James Edward Austen Leigh.

st mary's church

burial site of mr & mrs leigh-perrot

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Mr and Mrs Leigh-Perrot are both buried here in St. Mary's churchyard in an imposing family vault. 

Mr Leigh-Perrot died first in 1817, and Mrs Leigh-Perrot died in 1836.

There is also a memorial tablet to them inside the church. The interior does not look as it did when the couple worshipped there because it suffered significant fire damage in 1914 following an attack by some suffragettes. This plaque, and many others, luckily survived and were reinstated a couple of years later.

Photo: Memorial to Mrs Leigh-Perrot inside St. Mary's church, Wargrave

St. Mary's is a vibrant and welcoming church community. You can find out more on its website here.

extract

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