The BBC’s Miss Austen (2024) is a four-part historical drama starring Keeley Hawes and Jessica Hynes. Adapted from Gill Hornby’s novel by Andrea Gibb and directed by Aisling Walsh, the series explores the life of Cassandra Austen and the mystery behind her decision to burn her sister Jane Austen’s personal letters. The production captures the essence of early 19th-century England through carefully chosen period-appropriate filming locations.
Where Was Miss Austen Filmed?
Filming for Miss Austen took place in several locations across the Home Counties of England, starting in November 2023. The production team selected historical estates and villages that could authentically represent the world of Jane and Cassandra Austen.
Adwell House, Berkshire
Adwell House in Berkshire serves as the primary setting for Kintbury Vicarage, the home of the Fowle family, where Cassandra Austen visits to find and destroy Jane’s letters. The real Kintbury house that Cassandra once visited no longer exists, having been demolished and rebuilt in 1860. Adwell House, with its period-appropriate architecture and surroundings, stands in for the historic location in the series.
Shottesbrooke House, Berkshire
Jane Austen was born and lived for 25 years at Steventon Vicarage in Hampshire, where she began writing Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. However, Steventon Vicarage was demolished after the Austen family moved in 1801. Instead, Miss Austen used Shottesbrooke House, a privately-owned Tudor mansion near Windsor, to recreate Jane’s childhood home.
Chawton, Hampshire
Chawton, the village where Jane Austen spent some of the most productive years of her life, also features in the series. Austen lived in Chawton Cottage (now the Jane Austen’s House Museum) with her sister Cassandra and their mother. This is where she revised and completed her most famous novels, including Emma, Persuasion, and Mansfield Park.
Rye and Camber Sands, East Sussex
Several flashback sequences take viewers to the seaside town of Sidmouth, Devon, where Jane and Cassandra Austen visited in 1801. Since filming did not take place in Devon, the production team recreated Sidmouth in Rye and Camber Sands in East Sussex. The beach scenes were filmed in winter, with cast members braving freezing temperatures while depicting summer picnics.
When Did the Filming of Miss Austen Take Place?
Filming for Miss Austen began in November 2023 and took place over several months in historic locations across England. The production carefully selected estates, homes, and landscapes that could authentically represent Jane Austen’s world.
Official Trailer
FAQs-
Q: Was Miss Austen filmed in Bath?
A: No, despite Bath being closely associated with Jane Austen, the series was filmed in the Home Counties, including Berkshire and Hampshire.
Q: Where were the beach scenes in Miss Austen filmed?
A: The seaside sequences set in Sidmouth, Devon, were actually filmed at Rye and Camber Sands in East Sussex.
Q: Did filming take place at Jane Austen’s real home?
A: Yes, some scenes were filmed in Chawton, Hampshire, where Jane Austen lived and wrote several of her novels.
Q: Why wasn’t Steventon Vicarage used in the series?
A: Steventon Vicarage, where Jane Austen was born, was demolished after the Austen family moved in 1801. Instead, Shottesbrooke House in Berkshire was used as a stand-in.
Q: What was the main filming location for Kintbury Vicarage?
A: Adwell House in Berkshire served as Kintbury Vicarage in the series.