Jane Austen's grave

Jane Austen's grave
Photo: Iyeltak

Below is a brass plaque by Jane Austen's grave inside Winchester Cathedral. Austen died in the city in 1817 while seeking medical treatment. She was 41. The most popular theory is that she suffered from Addison's disease, a rare disorder of the adrenal glands.

Jane Austen's grave
Photo: WyrdLight-McCallum


When she was buried in the cathedral, the inscription on her tomb did not mention her novels at all, perhaps because they were published anonymously. Apparently, at the time, only male relatives could attend women's funerals, so only four people were at Austen's funeral: three brothers and a nephew. No Cassandra.