David Baddiel backs calls to protect Jane Austen’s historic lodge

David Baddiel has backed the calls to preserve Jane Austen’s heritage after a planning row broke out over proposals to turn a historic hotel where she celebrated her 18th birthday into student halls.

The plans are an attempt to transform the 500-year-old Dolphin Hotel in Southampton into student halls, but they have already received a flurry of objections from fans of the Pride and Prejudice writer. 

Ms Austen is said to have celebrated her milestone birthday at the hotel in 1793 and attended two ballroom dances there.

Now Mr Baddiel, an ambassador of the author’s Hampshire home museum, has called for the heritage of the building to be preserved. 

‘I agree that important elements of our history that are about great artists – and I do very much think that Jane Austen is a great artist, and very under-rated even though she’s so popular – should be preserved, and I would be very happy about preserving anything that Jane Austen is involved with’ he told The Telegraph. 

But the 60-year-old writer and comedian also stressed the importance of building new student accommodation. 

He told the paper it would make him happy if the halls of residence could keep a ‘tiny corner’ at least informing students it was where Jane Austen danced when she was 18.

The planning application is currently under consideration by Southampton City Council.

The hotel underwent a £4 million redevelopment programme in 2010 which saw it reopened as a Mercure and more recently, the building became used exclusively for asylum seekers.

A heritage statement said student accommodation was considered the most suitable alternative option due to the minimal changes required to the listed building, with a demand for this housing in the city.

A letter submitted on behalf of the applicant by real estate company, Savills, said the plans will ‘enable a long-term viable use of this important and prominent building’.

Ms Austen even wrote about visiting the hotel in her works, writing: ‘Our ball was rather more amusing than I expected.

‘The room was tolerably full, and there were, perhaps, thirty couples of dancers. It was the same room in which we danced fifteen years ago.’

The historic hotel had other famous guests including Queen Victoria, Admiral Lord Nelson and William Shakespeare’s theatre company. 

Campaigners have even donned period costumes this week as they protested the plans to transform the hotel. 

The Dolphin, which is rumoured to be haunted by six resident ghosts, is the oldest hotel in the port city with records dating back to 1454.

Under the new proposals, all 99 rooms will be transformed into student dwellings.

Austen fan Norma Mackey said when she first heard of the proposed development she ‘nearly cried’.

‘I did, I’m so passionate about this. As soon as I found out about it I contacted our theatre group so they knew what to do…objection, objection, objection.’

The retired health service worker, 69, said she ‘objects strongly’ to the change of use application and said all the history and architecture of the building will be ‘lost’ on the students staying there.

‘I think they have shot themselves in the foot because they will lose a gem,’ she added.

‘If it goes Southampton has lost quite a lot of its heritage. It’s disrespectful to the architect that designed it.’

Ms Mackey said the hotel is ‘a jewel in Southampton’s crown’ and on the planning portal begged those considering the proposal to ‘let people who take history seriously’ enjoy the building.

Discussing the ball room, Ms Mackey said it’s ‘just a nice feeling to know that she’s been here’.

‘And I just love the architecture of the building as well,’ she added.

The Southampton resident is part of the Sarah Siddons Fan Club which is a historical re-enactment theatre company named after Austen’s favourite actress.

The group – which was set up by Cheryl Butler in 1985 – regularly take tourists to the hotel as it is the only remaining building in the port city that was stayed in by the author.

‘The building dates back to the medieval period and it’s amongst the most prominent in town,’ Ms Butler said.

‘Many important people have stayed there.’

The historian and honorary fellow at the University of Winchester said Shakespeare’s theatre company, Jacques Francis and Lord Nelson are all among the hotels’ previous guests.

‘And of course, it’s of an interest to the Jane Austen community,’ she continued.

The Pride and Prejudice author celebrated her 18th birthday in the hotel on December 16, 1793, according to a plaque outside. 

‘According to Jane’s letters, she attended two other dances at the Dolphin ballroom, a beautiful bow-windowed room on the first floor,’ it read.

Jennifer Weinbrecht, who owns the Jane Austen Book store in Novelty, Ohio, USA, also wrote on the Southampton portal on behalf of the ‘international community of Jane Austen fans and scholars’.

‘I request that you consider the cultural importance of the Dolphin Inn as the only remaining structure in Southampton with Jane Austen connections,’ the 67 year old said.

‘As we approach next year’s 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, many of our customers and friends are making trips to the UK to visit Jane Austen sites.’

Ms Weinbrecht said Southampton is an important location on the ‘extended Austen pilgrimage’.

The Sarah Siddons Fan Club said they will be holding a number of events next year to celebrate the anniversary and they were hoping to hold an event in the Jane Austen suite, in the hotel.