A church has stood on the site of the present St. Nicholas since at
least 1270 when it was mentioned in a diocesan document, but there
is reason to believe that a place of worship existed there well
before that date. The building was enlarged and improved inside and
out over the years and much of it was re-built in the early
Victorian period. However a disastrous fire in 1871 effectively
destroyed the whole building except for the chancel so that the
present nave, north aisle, vestry and tower date only from 1872/3
although many of the early memorials were saved and are still on
the walls.
The village of Chawton is nowadays invariably linked to the
early 19thC novelist Jane Austen. Her brother Edward inherited the
Chawton estate, taking the name Knight, and in July 1809 Jane with
her mother and sister were offered a home in what is now a museum
dedicated to her. Here she revised, or wrote all her novels and
during that time worshipped regularly in St. Nicholas and often
wrote of the church although because of the fire the only part she
would recognise today would be the chancel. Jane lodged in
Winchester for the last three months of her life for medical
attention and was buried in the Cathedral in July 1817. Her mother
and sister are buried together near the south wall of this
church.
This is a simple off-set multi
The co-ordinates will take you to the graves of Jane Austen's
mother and sister.
You need the the following information
Cassandra Austen Died AB/A/ABCD
Cassandra Elizabeth Austen Died CC/E/ABFG
The cache can be found at
N51 07.DAA W 000 59.F(B+A)(G-F)
If anybody would like to expand on this series please do so.
Could you please let sadexploration know first so he can keep track
of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication.