As part of the Jane Austen 250 celebrations, Mrs Lucy Zeal DL attended the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at Reading’s historic Abbey Gateway. The event honoured the legacy of one of England’s most beloved authors and commemorated her time at the Abbey Gateway School, which Jane Austen and her sister Cassandra attended during 1785–86.

Mrs Zeal joined the Mayor of Reading and representatives from the Reading Civic Society for the ceremony. Following the unveiling, guests had the opportunity to view the Jane Austen exhibition housed within the Gateway, offering insights into the early years that shaped Austen’s life and work.

Photographs courtesy of Stewart Turkington.