Jane Austen’s School Days in Reading

In 2025, we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birthday of Jane Austen. So how better to start the year than with a talk by local historian and dedicated Janeite Joy Pibworth, exploring Austen’s connections with Reading. Reading’s Abbey Gateway was then home to the Ladies Boarding School which Jane Austen attended from 1785-6. With the help of contemporary sources, we shall look at the buildings, daily routines, the teachers and the local environment Jane would have become familiar with (and possibly even muse on the echoes in her writing).

This is the first of three talks in the Reading Heritage Talks Series. The other talks take place on 13th February and 13th March. You may book tickets for individual events or for all three talks in the series for a reduced price.  

After the talk, tea/coffee and cake will be available (included in the price). Pre-booking is preferred, but you can pay on the door, if there are spaces available.  

Image – Edward Hawke Locker – Reading Abbey (watercolour)

To book, scroll down.

Book Event

Form/ticket icon icon
Member
£4
Form/up small icon icon Form/down small icon icon
Available Tickets: 29

For members of Berkshire Family History Society

The "Member" ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.
Form/ticket icon icon
Non-Member
£5
Form/up small icon icon Form/down small icon icon
Available Tickets: 29

For non-members of Berkshire Family History Society

The "Non-Member" ticket is sold out. You can try another ticket or another date.
Total: 0

Date

Thu 09 Jan 2025

Time

14:00 - 15:30

Tickets

£5.00

Location

The Centre for Heritage & Family History
The Centre for Heritage & Family History
2nd Floor, Reading Central Library, Abbey Square, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 3BQ
Category

Organiser

The Centre - Berkshire FHS
Email
booking@berksfhs.org.uk
Website
https://berksfhs.org/branches/
Book Now!

Speaker

  • Joy Pibworth
    Joy Pibworth

    Joy has always been fascinated by history and is particularly interested in the history of the towns and villages of the former North Berkshire (now the Vale of the White Horse) and the history of Reading pre 1837. She is a long-standing member of several local history societies. Joy has been a Janeite (Jane Austen fan) since her school days and is particularly interested in the life and times of Jane and her immediate family.