Armchair travel to 5 Literary Ladies' homes in England

The Literary Ladies Lite Sunday edition

For aficionados of iconic women authors, there’s nothing like visiting the homes where they lived and wrote. There a good number of such preserved homes open to the public, keeping the spirit and legacies of the writers alive. Many hold public events, and most feature libraries and archives.

The Brontë parsonage in Yorkshire is high on my bucket list. I’ve long been obsessed by the Brontë sisters, Charlotte in particular, and the idea of being in the room in which they did their writing really grabs me. I’ll get there, sooner than later!

Here are 5 women authors’ homes to visit in England — see where Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, Beatrix Potter, Virginia Woolf, and Vita Sackville-West lived and worked. If you can’t get there in person, the links provided will get you started on your armchair travels.

Who has traveled to these places? Leave a comment and make me jealous! And please visit Literary Ladies Guide between newsletters.

Virginia Woolf's Monk's House

Photo: National Trust

Rodmell, Lewes, East Sussex
BN7 3HF UK
Website: Monk's House

From The National Trust website: This small weather-boarded house was the home of Leonard and Virginia Woolf until Leonard's death in 1969. The rooms reflect the life and times of the literary circle in which they moved. The garden writing room where Virginia used to work now houses extracts from her diaries and a display of her photographs.

A hidden retreat in the garden, come and explore the atmosphere of Virginia’s famous writing lodge. There are stunning views of the garden and the rugged South Downs, which inspired much of Virginia’s work including a short story called “The Orchard.” She would spend at least 3 hours a day here and sleep there on fine summer evenings.