THE WISDOM and wit of one of the country’s most famous authors has been immortalised in an unlikely literary location – a village underpass.
Memorable quotes from novels by Jane Austen have been inscribed along an underpass linking Alton to her home village of Chawton, where she wrote, or was inspired to write, most of her books.
The quotation panels running the length of the underpass were paid for thanks to a fundraising drive spearheaded by The Alton Society.
The money raised by the society was added to through significant contributions from councillor grants at both East Hampshire District Council and Hampshire County Council.
The project was also supported by the Jane Austen’s House Museum, Chawton House, a personal contribution from Alton Society members Bob and Karen Booker, and the De Laszlo Foundation.
The London-based foundation promotes the advancement of education and interest in the visual arts, and encourages research into the restoration of art works and research generally in the areas of arts, science, economics and medicine; and to encourage the study, reproduction and cataloguing of works of art.
Director at Jane Austen’s House Museum Mary Guyatt said: “We are delighted with the panels, which have really brightened up the walking route between Alton and Chawton.
“Our trustees and volunteers assisted in choosing the quotations for the underpass, and all of the contributors had a say in the final design.”
The artwork, prepared by Dataprint in Alton, was brought to life by the team at Hampshire County Council and installed after a week of cleaning the underpass, and painting during the annual maintenance of the underpass.
Chawton House chief executive Katie Childs said: “Jane Austen’s literary impact can never be underestimated, and to have this visual reminder reinforces her importance in this part of Hampshire.”
Economic development portfolio holder at East Hampshire District Council Cllr Ken Moon said: “This artwork supports the tourist economy by enhancing the journey those visitors make between Alton and Chawton.
“It’s been a pleasure working with the Hampshire County Council team and their contractors who proactively managed the project and liaised closely with our team at the district council throughout.”