Logo: Jane Austen
Lyme Regis - A Retrospect
Juana Writes....
A few years ago, pre-covid, I had the chance to visit Lyme Regis and stay in 65 Broad St.
These premises, now run by Bob and Mariko Speer, are now a handsome bookshop, and offering B n B accomodation above for booklovers.
You can click here to visit their Website....
A close reading of the literature and letters of Jane Austen reveals some fascination information re her various stays in Lyme Regis.
These visits lasted from around 1810 to 1816.
(Jane died July 1817).
For example, the hotel she stayed in:
1. Had a commanding view of the sea.
2. Was Lyme’s premier hotel.
3. Was located at the bottom of Lyme’s main street (now Broad St).
4. Had a stable behind (see final image by scrolling down below).
These criteria fit The Cups Hotel, then located at the bottom of what is now Broad St.
An 1841 Map of Lyme, shows a Cups Hotel at the bottom of Broad St. (see red arrow Key: Building 9 in the map scan below).
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What is even more remarkable is that the Hotel had a pavement window (shown in the left image circled below, c 1840).
This window still exists, in what is now 65 Broad St, currently trading as The Sanctuary Bookshop and Booklovers B n B...!
This can be seen in the right hand image circled below.
Image:
An even earlier map of 1813 clearly shows The Three Cups Hotel at the bottom of Broad St.
(See map below..center right)
Image:
The top floors of 65 Broad St are now run as "Booklovers B n B". and indeed the rooms have a clear view of the sea (which is where I stayed).
It is almost certain that Jane Austen slept in these rooms.
And the c 1940 deeds for the building show that there was indeed a stables behind (see top left of Site Plan, shown here below in red).
The BnB located at 65 Broad St can be viewed online. Click here...
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