One of the most interesting discoveries during my Jane Austen pilgrimage this summer was the iconic red telephone booth that was dedicated as a museum, library and an information center for Jane Austen. It is the smallest and the most charming museum I have ever seen.
We had driven to Steventon, Jane Austen’s birthplace, that morning. Other than St. Nicholas Church I was unable to find other local spots related to Austen. The village of Steventon is very small, even by the standards of small villages. It had private homes and windy, long countryside lanes. I would have loved to walk around but my Californian family had spent enough time in rain that morning at the church.
We exited St. Nicholas Church and headed towards the adjoining village of Overton. As we were driving through a small residential street, we suddenly came upon this very charming red telephone box dedicated to Jane.
Of course, we had to immediately stop. Parking was difficult on that narrow lane and initially we pulled into what appeared to be a private path. However, it was a small entrance leading up to private homes. A resident of one of the homes was outside and encouraged us to double-park there while I rushed inside the booth. It was clearly a common occurrence for them, especially during this special year.
The books inside the booth included some Austen adaptations and felt like a free lending library. An information pamphlet recommended a walking trail through Jane Austen’s countryside. We found other similar bicycle and walking trails posted in the village of Overton. Through another pamphlet I learned that during Austen’s time Overton had the nearest post office. The Austen family regularly went to Overton for mail and to mingle with local families. Prior to this, I had been unaware of the significance of Overton as it relates to Jane.
Despite its size, the museum was decorated beautifully in celebration of Austen’s 250th birth anniversary. For anyone visiting Steventon, I highly recommend taking this detour to visit this charming library, museum, and information center devoted to Austen.
