To mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, a bronze statue, sculpted by Martin Jennings, was unveiled in the Inner Close of Winchester Cathedral in October 2025. The life-size statue stands near her burial place, in the north nave aisle of the Cathedral. Jane Austen stands as an authoritative and elegant figure, with her characteristic ringlets and cap, by her famous writing table.
Jane Austen (born on 16 december 1775 in Hampshire, died 18 July 1817 in Winchester) was an English writer who first gave the novel its distinctly modern character. She vividly depicted English middle-class life during the early 19th century. Her plots often explore the dependence of women on marriage for the pursuit of favourable social standing and economic security. Her use of social commentary, realism, wit and irony have earned her acclaim amongst critics and scholars.
She published four novels during her lifetime:
Sense and Sensibility (1811)
Pride and Prejudice (1813)
Mansfield Park (1814)
Emma (1815)
Two novels were published posthumously in 1818:
Persuasion and Northanger Abbey
Jane Austen's works became timeless classics that remained popular successes for more than two centuries after her death.
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Logging Tasks
At the posted coordinates take a photo with you or your caching name with the statue in the background.
Post it with your log.
The second Waypoint (N 51° 03.524′ W 1° 18.819′) will take you to the house where Jane Austen died. Look at a rectangular metal cover on the pavement in front of the large window and find 2 numbers.
To validate your find please message us via www.geocaching.com to tell us ....
1. The sum of these 2 numbers.
and
2. The names of two villages in Hampshire where Jane Austen lived : early and later years (some easy research needed!)
You can log your cache with the photo. There is no need to wait for a reply, we will only contact you if the answers are wrong.
You may wish to visit the Cathedral (there is an entrance fee) and see her gravestone.
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Virtual Rewards 5.0 - 2026-2027
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between February 3, 2026 and February 3, 2027. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 5.0 on the Geocaching Blog.