"There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me" - Pride and Prejudice

The world's first sculpture of Jane Austen was unveiled, outside the Willis Museum, on Tuesday 18 July, 2017, to mark 200 years since her death. The bronze figure is a permanent tribute to the author and was created by Basingstoke sculpturer Adam Roud. It was designed to give the impression of Jane walking through Market Square, holding a pile of books. 

‘Sitting with Jane’ was a unique free public art trail during the summer of 2017, by Destination Basingstoke and partners, to celebrate Jane Austen’s connections with Basingstoke for the 200^th anniversary of her death. It attracted wide media attention and showcased the importance of Basingstoke and Deane in Jane's life. The sculpture trail was formed of 24 ‘Book Benches’ around Basingstoke; all of which were uniquely designed and painted in a Jane Austen theme by professional artists.

Steventon gave their phone box a new coat of red paint, new windows and Jane Austen signage. Useful leaflets, maps and a book exchange have been placed inside the phone box, allowing visitors to the literary landmark to discover more about local history.  

Basingstoke Heritage Society, a charity dedicated to making Basingstoke a better and more interesting place, has produced and funded 21 blue plaques over the last 23 years. One of the first to be created was a plaque celebrating the life of Jane Austen which was unveiled, to much publicity in 1993. It can be found on Barclays Bank, opposite the Willis Museum and recognises the site of the Assembly rooms where Jane is believed to have attended dances when she resided in Steventon.