Join Curator Emma Yandle for the first guided tour of our brand new exhibition, Mary Robinson.
Join Curator Emma Yandle for the premier tour of our brand new exhibition, Mary Robinson: Actress. Mistress. Writer. Radical. This is the first exhibition dedicated to the scandalous life and literary genius of Mary Robinson.
A star of the London stage, she became notorious as a Royal mistress. From treading the boards of London’s theatres, to gracing the gossip columns of newspapers, Robinson pioneered celebrity status. She lit up the fashion world, sparking trends with her choice of outfit or carriage, and she went on to light up the literary world with novels, poems and essays. A talented poet, she developed her distinctive poetic style alongside some of the best-known writers of the day, and she honed her political ideas in the radical circle around William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft.
Journey through Robinson's fascinating biography, and enjoy a guided viewing from our Curator of rare and early editions of her writing – from the debut novel that sold out by lunchtime on the day it was published to her impassioned argument for women’s rights – to surviving manuscript material on loan from collections and archives across the UK. See the portraits, engravings and caricatures through which her image was circulated and her reputation both shaped and ruined.
Afterwards, enjoy a traditional cream tea of freshly-baked sweet scones, clotted cream and jam, with Breakfast tea or filter coffee.
Tickets: £18 (this includes entry to the House and Gardens) | £8 for Annual Ticket & Neighbour Pass Holders | Cream Tea add-on for £6.
![](https://d3ir5jsauc24hh.cloudfront.net/2d1vJwhS800KMpn5oLvpOx/1f112b9c6bbf4fe5be73098b95383f68-xs.jpg)
Get a National Art Pass and explore Chawton House
You'll see more art and your membership will help museums across the UK
National Art Pass offers available at Chawton House
Visitor information
Address
Chawton House, Chawton, Hampshire, GU34 1SJ
01420 541010
Opening times
House, Garden & Tearoom Opening Hours 2024
2 Jan-6 Feb: Fri-Sun, 10am-3.30pm
7 Feb - 26 Mar: Weds-Sun, 10am-3.30pm
27 Mar - 7 Apr: Every day, 10am-4.30pm
8 Apr-12 May: Weds-Sun + Bank Holidays, 10am-4.30pm
13 May-22 Sep: Every day, 10am-4.30pm
23 Sep-22 Oct: Weds-Sun, 10am-4.30pm
23 Oct-3 Nov: Every day, 10am-4.30pm
4 Nov-30 Nov: Fri-Sun, 10am-3.30pm
1 Dec-17 Dec: Fri-Sun, 11am-4pm/6pm Glimmering Gardens*
18 Dec-1 Jan: Every day, 11am-6pm, except 24, 25, and 26 Dec*
*Please check our website for confirmed December opening hours
Exclusions and safety measures
For group bookings of 8+, please see further information on our website about Group Tours, or email hire@chawtonhouse.org. Please do not purchase tickets for group visits on Art Fund.
Visitor information
What else is on at Chawton House
Events nearby
The more you see, the more we do.
The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.