BUSINESS clients and management at Worting House Serviced Offices enjoyed a unique evening of drinks and history.

Guests were welcomed to the grounds of the 18th century Georgian mansion where management at Worting House hosted a Jane Austen Summer Drinks.

The evening linked in with the venue’s involvement in the high-profile Sitting With Jane project.

Worting House is the home of the ‘Are You Sitting Comfortably?’ BookBench, which was designed by artist Mik Richardson who was among the guests at the reception.

People in attendance heard from Worting House director John Jervoise, who told of the houses links with the Hampshire author - Worting House was inherited by Harris Bigg-Wither in 1813, and he was briefly engaged to Jane.

Mr Jervoise said: “With such strong links to the Jane Austen story, Worting House Serviced Offices, and many of our clients, were delighted to participate in the Sitting With Jane project.

“By doing so, we are pleased to also be supporting Ark Cancer Centre Charity’s £5million campaign to help fund the new Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust cancer treatment centre – a significant project that will benefit local people and their families.

“We are delighted that Jane Austen fans have been coming to Worting House to see Mik’s marvellous BookBench, and have been able to sit on a unique work of art in front of this historic house.”

Once the Sitting with Jane trail is over all 24 BookBenches will be auctioned off on Friday, September 15, with 75 per cent of the proceeds going towards the £5 million being raised by the Ark Cancer Centre Charity to build a centre in north Hampshire.

Tickets for the auction at The Ark Conference Centre cost £10, and include a welcome drink and auction catalogue.

To bid for a BookBench people need to complete the online registration by going to arkcancercharity.org.uk/fundraising/sitting-jane where there are also details on other aspects of the auction.