The Church Yard

By Gerry Dutton - Posted January 2000

The Yew Tree in the Churchyard

Yew trees are are common feature of English churchyards. The ancient yew tree in Steventon churchyard is however older than most. It has been estimated to be around 1000 years old and it has a girth of 20 feet.
The yew tree at Steventon Churchyard	In Jane's time, and up until fairly recently, the key to the church was always kept in the hollow trunk of the yew tree. The coin below the key is a British 50p piece which is approximately 1" diameter.
Unfortunately someone stole it and a new key had to be made. The new key is no longer kept in the yew tree.

The Austen Graves The graves of the Austen family are to be found in the north east corner of the Church Yard. Jane's eldest brother James Austin, and his wife Mary, are both buried here.
The grave of James & Mary Austen
Next to James Austen's grave are the graves of Jane's nephew William Knight and his family. William had three wives two of whom, Caroline and Mary are buried here. His third and last wife, Jane Hector Hope is buried eleswhere but is remembered here.
The Knight Family grave

The Knight graves also contain the remains of Mary Agnes, Cecilia and Augusta, the three young daughters of William, who died in such tragic circumstances in June 1848, The remains of a fourth daughter, Emily who died in 1832, within three days of being born are also interred here.
The grave of William Knight's three young daughters