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# Community to join national celebrations marking 250th anniversay of Jane Austen’s birth
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/community-to-join-national-celebrations-marking-250th-anniversay-of-jane-austens-birth/
- Published: 2025-07-01T06:06:00.000Z
- Updated: 2025-07-01T04:36:26.000Z
- Description: A community is preparing to commemorate the role it played in inspiring Jane Austen.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Heritage, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 18:45, News

A COMMUNITY is preparing to commemorate the role it played in inspiring Jane Austen.

Hamstall Ridware welcomed the author in 1806 with her family after they were invited by her cousin, the Reverend Edward Cooper.

Her six-week stay provided the inspiration for the fictional village of Delaford in Sense and Sensibility – with the book even including descriptions of the Old Rectory where her cousin lived.

Now the visit will be commemorated as part of national events marking 250 years since Austen’s birth.

A spokesperson said:

> “Though not widely known, her connection with Staffordshire through her visit and its influence on at least one of her famous novels is well documented and has continued to attract national and international interest amongst followers of her life and work.  
>  
> “Hamstall Ridware is an established destination within the Jane Austen ‘world’, most recently attracting another visit from members of the Jane Austen society of North America. The Mexican society are also scheduled to visit later this summer.”

The author’s link with the Church of St Michael and All Angels will be explored from 1.30pm on 12th July. 

Guests at the sold-out event will enjoy afternoon tea, performances from the Lichfield Regency Dance group and a talk on the author’s life.

The spokesperson added:

> “Those attending this special event have been encouraged to wear period costume and will have the opportunity to enjoy many of the sights that Jane Austen saw during her six-week summer stay at the Rectory with her mother and sister.”

Although the event is now fully booked, visitors can explore the 12th century church between 10am and 6pm daily, where they can catch a glimpse of the Old Rectory where Austen and her family stayed. The graves of her cousins, the Coopers, are located in the churchyard.