Jane Austen black plaque

This black commemorative plaque records: Jane Austen author: 1775-1817. The Long Rooms & Hot Baths. Built in 1767 on the shore-line outside the town walls, The Long Rooms and Hot Baths were the fashionable centre of Southampton as a spa resort. The Lance Family of Chessel House, Bitterne (where Lances Hill preserves their name), invited the Austens to a dance in The Long Rooms in January 1807, shortly after they had moved into their new home in Castle Square. Recorded plaque organisation: City of Southampton.

Jane Austen was an influential English novelist known for her witty social commentary and insightful portrayals of 18th- and early 19th-century life, particularly the lives of women. Her works, including "Pride and Prejudice" and "Sense and Sensibility," continue to be widely read and adapted, making her one of the most celebrated authors in English literature.