Legacy Matters

No more human ashes in Jane Austen's garden

"If it enriched the soil we wouldn't mind so much but the ashes have no nutrients at all,"

said Mrs West , collections manager of the Jane Austen museum, in an open letter to the Jane Austen society.

'While we understand many admirers of Jane Austen would love to have ashes laid here, it is something we do not allow.

'It is distressing for visitors to see mounds of human ash, particularly so for our gardener. Also, it is of no benefit to the garden!'

While Jane Austen expert, Professor Kathryn Sutherland, of Oxford University, thought

'I think she would think it's hilarious and be thrilled she inspired such devotion'.

Jane Austen museum forced to ban fans from scattering human ashes in her garden.