Jane Austen’s aunt, Jane Leigh Perrot, found herself embroiled in scandal when she was accused of shoplifting a card of white lace. While awaiting trial, she was hosted by the governor of Ilchester Gaol and his large family. Her letters revealed her disdain for the chaotic household and the lack of comfort. The Ilchester Museum is commemorating her eight-month stay with Governor Edward Scadding as part of the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth.
Despite her elevated social status, Leigh Perrot had to endure the trials of her stay with the gaol governor’s family. Jane Austen’s mother offered to send Jane and Cassandra to cheer her up, but Leigh Perrot declined. The museum invites visitors to explore the details of the trial at Taunton Assizes and learn about the scandal that led to the gaol’s closure.
The museum, located in the High Street, offers a free, comprehensive view of over 2,000 years of history and is open on Wednesdays from April to October and the last Saturday of the month during the same period.