Stoneleigh Abbey: The Big Picture

Featured ~ Brenda S Cox

by Brenda S. Cox

Last week we honed in on the chapel at Stoneleigh Abbey, which no doubt at least influenced  Austen’s picture of the chapel at Sotherton in Mansfield Park. The whole abbey, of course, is amazing. 

Stoneleigh Abbey library, replenished by the Adlestrop branch of the family after the fifth Lord Leigh, Edward, bequeathed most of his library to his college at Oxford (before he went mad, see other posts for his story). Wouldn’t you love to hang out here and read the books?

Much of the Abbey was destroyed by fire in 1960, though most of the contents were saved. A huge restoration project began in 1996, and they’ve done an amazing job.

 

Firescreens in the Stoneleigh Abbey drawing room, embroidered by the ladies of the house, protected those in the drawing room from the fire’s direct heat. We can imagine Mr. Woodhouse loving these.

For more of a tour of Stoneleigh Abbey, please click on this link to Jane Austen’s World, where I posted this week on “Stoneleigh Abbey: I had no idea of its being so beautiful!” That’s what Jane Austen’s mother said about it, and I agree. Enjoy the virtual tour as my Christmas gift to you! It includes relevant quotes from several of Jane Austen’s novels, along with the photos.

Further Reading

Jane Austen & Adlestrop: Her Other Family, by Victoria Huxley. US Amazon link

The Stoneleigh Abbey Chapel and Mansfield Park

Jane Austen’s Rich(er) Leigh Family Connections at Adlestrop and Stoneleigh Abbey 

Stoneleigh Abbey: I had no idea of its being so beautiful!

Visiting Stoneleigh Abbey

Cassandra Leigh Austen’s Stay at Stoneleigh Abbey (letter)

Jane Austen’s Leigh Family: Stories Behind the Stories

Jane Austen’s Clergymen and Her Leigh Family (includes the story of the fifth Lord Leigh, mentioned above)

Stoneleigh Abbey website

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