Food and Drink in the Time of Jane Austen

An after-lunch lecture with Jenny Stevens as part of Alton's Jane Austen Regency Week 2026.

Jane’s birth in 1775 in Steventon, North Hampshire, fell with a time of revolution (industrial and political) and social change in Britain and Europe. As with most periods of history we know far more about the diet of the wealthier members of society than those who were less well off, and Jane’s writings bring us clues as to the daily diets of those in her circle. With the influence of French cooking and ingredients arriving from as far away as India, was it time for the English to give up their pottage, puddings and roast beef...?
Talk starts at 2.30pm and last approximately 1 hour, followed by light refreshments (included in ticket price) and Q & A.
A range of Jane Austen-inspired gifts and publications are available to purchase from the museum shop.