Christopher Sandrawich explains the importance of the Library Passage

Campaign to prevent the proposed closure of a right-of-way in Worthing, Sussex, England known as “Library Passage” which was in all probability used by Jane Austen and her family in 1805, and is therefore of historical and international literary interest. EDITOR’S NOTE: I’ll post the tour of Worthing article Chris mentions later; it’s quite informative and long.

Introduction
It is not well known that Jane Austen and part of her family stayed with friends at Stanford’s Cottage in Worthing in the autumn of 1805. There are no letters about this as the usual correspondents were all together, and the source of this knowledge comes from Jane’s niece, Fanny Knight, who kept a diary, and there are entries explaining their visit to the seaside. Worthing, and a businessman and developer (Mr Ogle) whom Jane met there, are the likely models for both Sanditon and Mr Parker.

Stanford’s Cottage was adjacent to a passageway which was a short-cut to both the sea-front and to the circulating library, known as Stafford’s Library. As each would have been a major attraction to Jane Austen and her family and friends it is unreasonable to suggest that she would not have made use of the quickest and most direct means of walking to the library or the sands.

Enquiry, Report and Considerations
Details of a Tour of Worthing in October 2011 by the Jane Austen Society Midlands are attached and in this article the passageway referred to above known as a “twitten” and called the “Library Passage” is mentioned as under threat of closure. An enquiry has now been held and a Report sent for consideration and a decision to the Secretary of State for Transport. If you consider that safe means should be found to keep the Library Passage open for future generations then you need to join with others who are objecting and write to the Secretary of State for Transport supporting this view.

The Bus Company who own the land at one end of this right-of-way are citing safety concerns for closing the passageway. Such closure would of course enhance the value of the land for the owners and make any future changes or sale easier to manage. However, when they (or their predecessors) originally bought the land for its present use there were no safety considerations then raised to prevent their current operations.
We believe that safety concerns should be addressed whilst leaving the passageway open and any additional costs for making it safe and keeping it open may well be compensated for by increased tourism by Jane Austen enthusiasts to Worthing and to this site.

Additional Information
For further information about Worthing and the Jane Austen connection I refer you to:

  • Edward Ogle of Worthing and Jane Austen’s Sanditon – Antony Edmunds, an article appearing in The Jane Austen Society Report for 2010
  • Jane Austen and Worthing – Janet Clarke, an article appearing in The Jane Austen Society Report for 2008
  • An article appearing in the Worthing Herald written by N Barston on 21st September 2011 http://www.worthingherald.co.uk/community/pride_over_worthing_links_to_jane_austen_1_3069325.

Action
Please write urgently expressing your concerns and requesting that the Library Passage should remain open to:
Rt Hon Justine Greening MP – Secretary of State for Transport, Dept for Transport, Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 4DR alternatively you can write to: House of Commons, London. SW1A 0AA

Chris Sandrawich, Membership Secretary The Jane Austen Society Midlands

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