Our Treasury collections include artefacts from the ancient world, medieval art, Chinese ceramics, paintings and watercolours, and an important collection of early English silver.
Celebrating the 250th anniversary year of Jane Austen’s birth, this exhibition explores the relationship between Austen and Winchester College, where eight of her nephews were educated between 1808 and 1830. The exhibits showcase life at Winchester College in the early nineteenth century, when her nephews were at the College and also when Austen spent the final weeks of her life living on the outskirts of the College, at No. 8 College Street.
Highlights include first editions of Austen’s novels, a copy of Catherine Maria Fanshawe’s ‘Charade’ in Austen’s hand (a rare surviving example of Austen copying out the work of another writer), a copy in her brother James Edward’s handwriting of their father’s poem ‘Venta’ on Jane’s death, and much more.
Treasury is open from 2-4pm every day, apart from during our Christmas closure period (24 December – 1 January inclusive). Entry is free and there is no need to pre-book.
For private groups and school visits, please contact the museum manager.
There is a varied programme of temporary exhibitions in Treasury, which often include books and manuscripts from the school’s archives and historic library.
A children’s trail is also available.
ACCESSIBILITY
Three of Treasury’s four galleries are wheelchair accessible. We also have a disabled toilet.
Treasures tours allow visitors to see highlights from parts of our collections which are not normally on public display. Led by the Museum and Collections Manager, visitors will explore the College’s art gallery and original museum, ‘Musā’, where oil paintings, watercolours, and tapestries are on show. We also visit part of the Fellows’ Library, where there is a changing display of rare books and manuscripts, prints, and drawings.
