Jane Austen, Balls & Nobility

If I had a time machine, going back to the early 1800s to attend a Regency ball would be high on my list of priorities.

In every one of Jane Austen’s 6 published novels, and in books and tv shows set in Jane Austen’s universe (hello Bridgerton), balls are places to dance, flirt and gossip. In real life, Jane enjoyed all three at informal gatherings amongst her Steventon neighbours (read more about the Lloyds and Lefroys here).

The families of local squires and clergy would get together, pushing back the furniture to make space for a few dances in their comfortable but modest homes.

From Country Dances to Grand Balls

Once or twice every “season” (the Winter months), Jane would receive an invitation to a much grander affair, held by the local nobility: the Portsmouths, Dorchesters and Boltons.

When Jane’s sister Cassandra was away in Kent visiting their brother Edward, Jane would make sure her sister didn’t miss out by recounting balls in detail:

“It was a pleasant Ball, & still more good than pleasant, for there were nearly 60 people, & sometimes we had 17 couple. – The Portsmouths, Dorchesters, Boltons, Portals & Clarks were there, & all the meaner & more usual &c. &c.’s” 1^st November 1800

Jane had noble ancestry (more on this in my piece for the Hampshire Chronicle), but she had no delusions of grandeur – she knew she was part of the “meaner & more usual” crowd at the ball.

The families she lists in her letter (Portsmouths, Dorchesters, Boltons, Portals & Clarks) were a cut above. And ripe for scrutiny, as we shall see.

The Portsmouths of Hurstbourne Park

The Earl of Portsmouth during Jane’s dancing years was John-Charles Wallop. He was well known to Jane, having lived with her at Steventon Rectory in 1773 (George Austen turned his family home into a small-scale boarding school to make some extra money).

Jane’s mother Cassandra, not one to suffer fools, labelled him backward. His strange and sad life is brought to life by Elizabeth Foyster in her book The Trials of the King of Hampshire.

Hurstbourne Park, one of the grandest homes Jane ever danced in, sadly burnt down in 1891

John-Charles hosted a ball at his home, Hurstbourne Park, in November 1800. Cassandra was still in Kent, so we get another vivid description from Jane. Firstly, her hangover:

“I believe I drank too much wine last night at Hurstbourne; I know not how else to account for the shaking of my hand to day” 20th – 21st November, 1800

Next the dancing, or lack thereof:

“There were only twelve dances, of which I danced nine, & was merely prevented from dancing the rest by the want of a partner. – We began at 10, supped at 1, & were at Deane before 5” 20th – 21st November, 1800

And then comes the very funny critique of her fellow guests, starting with a Mrs Blount:

“She appeared exactly as she did in September, with the same broad face, diamond bandeau, white shoes, pink husband, & fat neck” 20th – 21st November, 1800

The beaky Maitland sisters:

“The Miss Maitlands are both prettyish… with brown skins, large dark eyes, & a good deal of nose” 20th – 21st November, 1800

And finally the halitosis-afflicted Debary sisters:

“Miss Debary, Susan & Sally… made their appearance, & I was as civil to them as their bad breath would allow me” 20th – 21st November, 1800

The Dorchesters of Kempshott Park

Kempshott Park was the home of Guy Carleton, 1^st Baron Dorchester. Having served with distinction in the army, he was rewarded with the Barony of Dorchester in 1786.

Kempshott Park, one time hunting lodge of the Prince Regent, later home of Baron Dorchester, sadly demolished in 1965

Jane attended a ball at Kempshott Park in January 1799, describing it in another letter to her sister (lucky for us, but not for poor Cassandra who was at Godmersham Park again helping to look after her nieces and nephews).

We learn that 23-year-old Jane wore green shoes and that the ballroom was full to bursting:

“I wore my Green shoes last night, & took my white fan with me… There were more Dancers than the Room could conveniently hold, which is enough to constitute a good Ball at any time. – I do not think I was very much in request -. People were rather apt not to ask me till they could not help it” 21st-23rd January, 1799

A rather disappointing turn of events for Jane, who loved to dance. Nonetheless, she lists a Mr Wood and Mr South as her dance partners, and reliable family friends G. Lefroy and J. Harwood stepped in too.

The Boltons of Hackwood Park

At the same ball, Jane encountered the Bolton family of Hackwood Park, once the seat of the Dukes of Bolton.

The 5^th Duke died without a legitimate male heir, so in a stunning and scandalous turn of events, his illegitimate daughter Jane-Mary Powlett inherited the estate. She wasn’t allowed to inherit the Dukedom, but her husband Thomas Orde was made Baron Bolton in 1797.

A lesser title, Dukes being the top rank of the nobility, Barons the bottom rank, but a nice consolation prize nonetheless.

Hackwood Park, once the home of Baron Bolton, still stands and was recently on sale for £65m

Lord and Lady Bolton’s heir is immortalised in Jane’s letters as a bad dancer:

“One of my gayest actions was sitting down two Dances in preference to having Lord Bolton’s eldest son for my Partner, who danced too ill to be endured” 21st-23rd January 1799

At a ball the following year, Jane’s keen eye sized up his mother, Lady Bolton:

“Lady Bolton is much improved by a wig” 1st November 1800

The Portals and Clarkes

Not nobility, but certainly rich and well-connected, the Portals and Clarkes were part of the quality at any ball.

The Portals, from Huguenot refugees to millionaire paper manufacturers, deserve a deep dive in a future post, but I will whet your appetite with Jane’s opinion of Mr Benjamin Portal’s eyes:

“We had a visit yesterday morning from Mr. Benjamin Portal, whose eyes are as handsome as ever” 9th – 10th January 1796

The Clarkes of Worting House were connected to the fabulously wealthy Mildmay family. On one occasion Mrs Clarke acted as Jane’s chaperone:

“… we dined together & went together to Worting to seek the protection of Mrs Clarke, with whom were Lady Mildmay, her eldest son, & a Mr & Mrs Hoare. – Our ball was very thin, but by no means unpleasant… There were twenty Dances & I danced them all & without any fatigue. – I was glad to find myself capable of dancing so much & with so much satisfaction as I did… in cold weather & with few couples I fancy I could just as well dance for a week together as for half an hour. – My black Cap was openly admired by Mrs Lefroy, & secretly I imagine by every body else in the room” 24th-26th December 1798

Mrs Clarke and Lady Mildmay were sisters. The eldest son mentioned here was Henry St John-Mildmay. He would have been about 12 years old and may have been allowed to stay up late to attend the dance.

In her peerless Jane Austen’s Letters, Deirdre Le Faye speculates that he may have inspired Jane’s character Charles Blake from her unfinished novel The Watsons.

Worting House near Basingstoke, the home of Mrs Clarke, who once chaperoned Jane at a ball

Henry would grow up to become MP for Winchester and one of the leading lights of Regency society, cutting a swathe through the ton with his fellow dandies Beau Brummell and Lord Alvanley.

He was involved in one of the biggest scandals of the age when he was caught in flagrante delicto with his sister-in-law. That too is a story for another blog post, or join me on one of my Regency Scandals tours in Winchester.

Written  by Nicola James 2025 (not using AI which alas needs to be stated these days!)