When Jane Austen visited Bath with her brother Edward and sister-in-law Elizabeth in June 1799 she was as excited as most young women in their early twenties would be at the prospect of shopping.

Bunches of artificial fruit were all the rage for bonnet decoration that season and Jane had been commissioned by her sister Cassandra to choose some. On Sunday 2nd June Jane wrote to Cassandra, telling her what was on offer - ‘Flowers are very much worn, & Fruit is still more the thing. - Eliz has a bunch of Strawberries, & I have seen Grapes, Cherries, Plumbs & Apricots….A plumb or greengage would cost three shillings; - Cherries & Grapes about 5 I believe - but this is at some of the dearest Shops; My Aunt has told me of a very cheap one near Walcot Church, to which I shall go in quest of something for You’.

I have left Jane’s spelling and punctuation as it appears in her letter. It would have been so much easier for Jane if she could have messaged Cassandra with some photos - but then we wouldn’t have her delightful descriptions to entertain us.

Janeausteninternational did a wonderful post recently showing a Regency fruit-trimmed bonnet from the collection of The Boston Museum of Fine Art. I was inspired to imagine Jane in her own cherry-decked bonnet on an early June day in Bath.

🍒🌸. The other photos show beautiful Bath under a blue sky.