Stepping into the historic Abbey Gateway in Reading offers a rare glimpse into the early years of one of England’s most celebrated authors. Last week, students from Lower IV visited the room where a nine-year-old Jane Austen boarded between July 1785 and December 1786. Located in the medieval Abbey Gateway, which our school is now named after, the establishment provided lessons in French, spelling, needlework, and dancing. Though Jane’s time in Reading lasted only 18 months, it left a lasting impression on the author. Literary scholars and historians widely believe that the schoolroom at Abbey Gateway served as the direct inspiration for ‘Mrs. Goddard’s old-fashioned girls’ boarding school’ in Austen’s beloved novel, Emma.

We were also lucky enough to enjoy a visit to the Reading Museum and take a look at various fascinating exhibits—including a copy of the Bayeux Tapestry, which was created in 1880, and artefacts from the Roman town of Silchester, located between Reading and Basingstoke.

Ms Wenman, Librarian