Commemorative Plaque For Jane Austen’s Former Reading School At Abbey Gateway

A commemorative plaque honouring the life of Jane Austen and the period she attended school in Reading has been installed on the Abbey Gateway.

Jane Austen spent 18 months being educated in Reading, enrolling in the Reading Ladies Boarding School in the Reading Abbey Gateway in 1785 at the age of nine years old, and remaining a pupil at the school until December 1786. While little is known about Jane's time in Reading, the schoolroom at Abbey Gateway is often cited as the inspiration for Austen’s Mrs Goddard’s School in Emma, and as she authored her earliest known writings at the age of 11, her time at the school in the Abbey Gateway may even had played a part in fostering her storytelling talent.

A formal reveal of the new commemorative plaque will take place ahead of Water Fest, the Council’s free to attend flagship event, on Saturday 28 June. A short ceremony will be led by Reading Mayor, Councillor Alice Mpofu-Coles.

The new commemorative plaque replaces a brass plaque to Jane Austen that was in a small, railed and locked garden, behind the Abbey Gateway. The plaque was installed in March 2006 by Reading and District Steadfast Association (Steadfast Associations are supporters and former members of the Boys Brigade) and unveiled by H.H. Judge Spence.

Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Leisure and Culture said: “Jane Austen’s legacy continues to inspire readers and writers around the world, and we are proud to honour her connection to Reading with this new commemorative plaque. The Abbey Gateway, where she once studied, is a treasured part of our town’s heritage, and we are proud to celebrate that rich history with residents and visitors alike.”

Reading Museum now cares for the historic Abbey Gateway where Jane and her sister Cassandra attended school. As part of the 250th anniversary celebration the Abbey Gateway will open for a series of special events and tours: 

Abbey Quarter tours will run most Saturdays between April and October 2025 and include an exclusive visit to Jane Austen's school inside the medieval Abbey Gateway.

There are also four public Abbey Gateway Rooftop Tours which will explore the Abbey Gateway’s history, its links with Jane Austen, including an exclusive visit to the rooftop to admire the views across to Forbury Gardens.

Find out more about all Jane Austen 250 events in Reading Jane Austen 250 - 2025 | Reading Museum

Take a look inside the Abbey Gateway where Jane Austen went to school with Reading Museum Manager https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKQufNfrOwA&t

New Directions, Reading’s adult and community college is also celebrating Jane Austen with ‘A taste of Jane Austen’ embroidery, cookery and ceramic workshops. Find out more www.newdirectionsreading.ac.uk/?s=jane+austen