A RARE collection of Jane Austen’s family archives have arrived at the Hampshire Record Office in Winchester.

It includes several books, a history of family correspondence, a manuscript verse book given to Cassandra Austen in 1837 and a notebook containing Caroline Austen’s recollections.

Louise West, curator of Jane Austen’s House Museum near Alton, said: “The partnership between the museum and Hampshire Record Office is a very fulfilling one and there are benefits to everyone.”

Researchers will now be able to access digital copies of the Jane Austen archives along with other important Austen family material held at the record office.

Jane Austen’s House Museum will retain ownership of the material, and regularly puts it on display so that visitors can still see the unique items authentically, in the home where the author wrote her renowned novels.

Jane Austen scholar, Deirdre Le Fay, said: “As Hampshire Record Office already holds the Austen-Leigh archive, it’s most important that the trustees of the Jane Austen House Museum should now deposit their holdings of family material under the same roof.

“Future scholars will therefore have the convenience of studying all these documents together in the comfort of controlled conditions.”

Hampshire Record Office is open to the public Monday to Saturday free of charge. Visit www.hants.gov.uk/archives for more details.