When the Austen family moved to Bath in May 1801, they offered the contents\nof their home, Steventon Rectory, for sale at auction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No catalogue of the sale has ever been found, but Robin Vick did find the\nfollowing advertisement for the sale, in the Reading Mercury of 20th April\n1801.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(For full details, see the JAS Report, 1993: The Sale at Steventon\nParsonage.)
\nSteveton Parsonage, near Overton, Hants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To be SOLD by AUCTION by Mr Stroud, On the premises, on Tuesday the 5th\nMay 1801,and two following days at eleven o\u2019clock. This small collection of theatrical scenery was the last physical remnants\nof the theatricals performed in the barn at Steventon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Robin Vick speculates: So sad to think they were still in that barn and then sold off , for what\npurpose? Firewood, perhaps?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When the Austen family moved to Bath in May 1801, they offered the contents of their home, Steventon Rectory, for sale at auction. No catalogue of the sale has ever been found, but Robin Vick did find the following advertisement … Continue reading
\nThe neat HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, well made Chariot (with box to take off) and\nHarness, 200 volumes of Book, Stump of Hay, Fowling Pieces, Three Norman Cows\nand Calves, one horse, and other Effect.
\nThe furniture comprises four-post and field bedsteads, with dimity, moreen and\nother furnitures, fine feather beds and bedding, mattresses, pier and a\ndressing glass, floor and bedside carpets, handsome mahogany sideboard, modern\nset if circular dining tables on pillar and claws, Pembroke and card ditto,\nbureaus, chests of drawers and chairs, a piano forte in a handsome case (by\nGaner) a large collection of music by the most celebrated composers, and an 18\ninch terrestrial globe (by Adams) and microscope, mahogany library table with\ndrawers; bookcase with six doors, eight feet by eight feet; a smaller ditto,\ntea china, a table set of Wedgwood ware, eight day clock, side of bacon;\nkitchen, dairy and brewing utensils,13 ironbound casks, an end of hops, set of\ntheatrical scenes &c, &c.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nThe fact that they had painted scenes suggests that their productions,\nthough presumably not approaching the grandeur of the intended performance at\nMansfield Park, were of a fairly ambitious nature.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n