Jane Austen visited Southampton in 1783 and 1793 and became a resident between 1806-1809, living on Castle Square in a combined household with her mother, sister Cassandra, friend Martha Lloyd, brother Frank and his new bride Mary. At this time Southampton was a popular spa town and watering place welcoming royalty, artists, and writers as visitors and new residents who had made their money in India, China and the West Indies or were officers in the Royal Navy.
Austen took advantage of all the amenities the town had to offer, dancing at the Dolphin, taking water parties to the gothic ruins of Netley Abbey, and going to the theatre. The town provided inspiration for her first adult novel Northanger Abbey and her last unfinished work Sanditon.
Plaques around the old town link to the Jane Austen Trail and Netley Abbey is still popular with visitors and writers today.
