MORE than a thousand visitors flocked to the village of Chawton, near Alton, one weekend in June to take in the open gardens, designed to mark the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death.

Ten households had opened their gates to the public, as well as Chawton House Library and Jane Austen’s House Museum, with gardens ranging from generous formal layouts to small cottage gardens and allotments.

To add to the enjoyment there was a display of scarecrows throughout the village, on the theme of ‘Horrible Histories’.

Taking first prize was the First World War ‘Warhorse’ – the work of residents George, Edward and Beatrice Kitching and Elizabeth Watts – while taking second place was ‘Nelson on his column’, courtesy of Lisa, Rob and Carenza.

Chawton House Library made a big impression with the ‘Six (becostumed) Wives of Henry VIII’.

There was also an arts and crafts exhibition at Chawton Primary School, as well as the children’s very own ‘Walking with Jane’ bookbench, Morris dancing, horse drawn carriage rides using the Shires from Chawton House which provided a taxi service from one end of the village to the other, cream teas and plant sales.

Blessed with sunny weather, the event raised £5,000 for village causes.