Town gives Jane Austen sculpture 'pride of place'

A town's high street has "given pride of place" to a bronze statue of novelist Jane Austen.

The artwork, which has been placed in Alton's Regency Garden in Hampshire, outside Alton Assembly Rooms, was unveiled in a ceremony on 21 June as part of the town's annual Regency Week.

It was created through a project run by Alton Town Council and funded by a £46,000 rural grant from East Hampshire District Council's Grow Up! campaign.

Mayor Annette Eyre said organisers were "confident it will enhance our town's historical offering and attract visitors from near and far".

Jane Austen is world-famous for works such as Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion.

The sculpture was created as part of celebrations for her 250th birthday.

The event included community leaders, Wiltshire sculptor Mark Coreth and the author's fifth great niece Caroline Knight, who is now a historian and chair of the Jane Austen Literacy Foundation.

Ms Eyre said Alton was "proud" to honour Jane Austen's legacy.

"We are confident it will enhance our town's historical offering and attract visitors from near and far," she said.

Robert Mocatta, the council's portfolio holder for regeneration and prosperity, said the people of Chawton and Alton "are rightly proud of their association with this internationally renowned figure".

He added that the Grow Up! campaign "seeks to promote the district's rich rural heritage".

Council chairman Graham Hill said it was "very gratifying" to know the authority had supported the completion of the statue that "will serve as a fitting memorial for Jane".

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