LIBRARY AND EARLY WOMEN'S WRITING
THE COLLECTIONS
Knight Collection
The library also houses the Knight Collection, which is the private library belonging to the Knight family, the owners of Chawton House for over 400 years. The Knight Collection was put together over generations, mainly in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. At one time, this collection was owned by Jane Austen's brother Edward, who was adopted into the Knight family, and as such it was a library known to and used by Jane Austen herself. There have been many changes to this collection since 1900 but it remains a fascinating example of a country house library. The collection is on loan to Chawton House Library from Richard Knight.
For further information about the library's holdings please contact the library staff on 01420 541010 or .
