Steventon via Oakley, Deane and Ashe

Start Point: Oakley Skate Park, Station Road, Oakley RG23 7HD, SU 57030 50994, what3words///sourced.shelved.afternoon

Jane Austen was born in Steventon and loved walking the surrounding countryside to visit friends and neighbours. In a letter to her sister, Cassandra she wrote “On Thursday we walked to Deane, yesterday to Oakley Hall and Oakley and today to Deane again” (25 October 1800).

 1

From the car park turn right on Station Road then cross the B3400 into Malshanger Lane opposite. Walk down the lane to Malshanger Lodge (1859) and continue to follow the lane as it bends to the left.

 2

Continue past Summerdown Farm on the left, where the Colman family grows peppermint. Where the lane bends sharply left and becomes Ivy Down Lane, continue straight ahead through a metal gate into a field and take the bridleway on the right. Continue on this path until it meets the Wayfarer’s Walk (WW). Turn sharply left at about 45° and follow the WW as it rises gently across the field.

 3

Continue ahead into the next field and after 100m look for a metal kissing gate concealed in the hedgerow on the right. Go through the gate and proceed downhill diagonally across the field. Go through a metal farm gate into the lower field and walk along the right side. Exit through a gate and turn right onto the lane.

 4

Just after Deane Down Farm go through a metal kissing gate on your left. Walk across the field to a wooden gate with a metal kissing gate on the right. Go through the kissing gate and walk over the railway bridge. The WW continues diagonally across the field and then downhill across the next field to reach a wooden gate in a hedge. Go through the gate and follow the path behind the cottages then turn right onto the lane. Ignore the turning on the right and as the lane bends left go through the metal gate on the right on a path leading to All Saints Church with Deane House on the right. This was the home of John Harwood and JA attended a ball in 1796 at which Tom Lefroy was present. Go through the gate into the churchyard. JA’s eldest brother James became Curate in 1792 and lived in the Parsonage with his family. This is not the church that JA visited as it was rebuilt in 1818-20 in the Gothic style and the Parsonage was replaced by Deane Hill House in 1855.

 5

After visiting the church leave through the same gate and turn right to follow the footpath across the field, with a metal fence on your right. Go through the tall wooden gate into a field. Pass the lake on the right and proceed through another wooden gate. Continue downhill to a wooden kissing gate leading to the lane. Cross the lane into the churchyard of Holy Trinity and St Andrew’s church, Ashe. The Rev George Lefroy was Rector and JA was great friends of his wife, Anne even though she was 25 years older than Jane. Anne wrote poetry and encouraged JA in her writing and is often mentioned in her letters. Again, this is not the church that JA visited as it was rebuilt in 1877.

 6

Leave the church through the lychgate and turn left then right onto the lane. On the right is Ashe House, which was Ashe Parsonage. JA frequently visited the Lefroy’s here. Anne’s nephew, Tom stayed here at Christmas 1795 and had a short flirtation with JA. They saw each other for the last time at a ball at the Parsonage in January 1796. Walk to the end of the lane and cross with care the B3400 onto Burley Lane. After 100m turn left at the metal Public Footpath signpost and go through the metal kissing gate. Follow the path diagonally across the field and go through two more metal kissing gates. On reaching a metal fence continue uphill with the fence on your left.

 7

In the top corner of the field go through the wooden gate leading to Kimber’s Copse. To the left is Ashe Park that belonged to the Portal family and their tenant was Mr. Holder. JA attended dances here. Ignoring the footpath through a gate on the left, continue on the path bearing right between high metal stock fences on both sides.

 8

Turn right through the wooden gate leading to a path running alongside the railway on your left. Proceed to another gate and walk under the railway bridge. Continue across fields to reach a lane. Cross over and follow the footpath across Steventon Park.

 9

Go through a metal gate in the hedge and turn left along a track leading to a lane. Turn right and walk up the lane to reach St Nicholas church, Steventon on the left. JA was born in the Rectory in 1775 and lived there until her father retired in 1801 and moved his wife and daughters to Bath. JA was baptized in St Nicholas church on 5th April 1776. James Austen moved into the Rectory as Curate in 1801 and became Rector in 1805 when his father died. After he died his brother Henry served as Rector. In 1823 JA’s nephew, William Knight became Rector. The church is still much the same as it was in JA’s time and there is a display inside with information about JA. There are memorials to James Austen and his wife Mary inside the church and their grave lies horizontally in the churchyard on the left of the church. The Digweed family lived in Steventon Manor; not the current building that was rebuilt after a fire in 1932.

 10

Leave the church and walk down the lane to Steventon. All that remains of the Rectory is a pump in a field on the left. On reaching a junction turn right and walk along the lane to Nurshanger Farm. Take the footpath with fingerpost on the left of the farmyard, keeping the hedge on your right. Continue across the next field to reach the railway. Turn right on the path with the railway on your left. Turn left to go under the railway bridge and rejoin the WW.

 11

Where WW crosses another footpath turn right and follow the footpath across Oakley Park with Oakley Hall coming into view on your left. This was the home of the Bramston family and JA was a regular visitor. At the top of the hill with two benches overlooking St Leonard’s church take the path to the right downhill.Go through the wooded area and turn left onto a wide track with a vineyard on your right. Go through the narrow opening to the right of the double gates and turn left onto the lane. Walk ahead to Rectory Road and cross to a track.

 12

Pass the Peter Houseman Recreation Ground on the left. Ignore the first footpath on the right behind the school and bear right on the second path. At this point a short diversion can be taken to Jolly Olly’s café: open Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–4pm. Continue ahead on the footpath with Oakley Schools on your right. Turn left onto Oakley Lane and the café is on the right. After visiting the cafe retrace your steps to this point.

 13

Turn left on the footpath running behind the houses. On reaching the new houses turn slightly left then right to walk on a new footpath. At the allotments turn right then left over the metal railway bridge. Exit by a house with whitewashed rendering onto the B3400 and turn left. Just after Oakley Tennis Club turn left through the metal gate into Beach Park and follow the path to the right past the Skate Park to return to the car park.