The heritage of Tonbridge was celebrated this afternoon with the unveiling of a commemorative blue plaque.

It pays tribute to George Austen, father of the 19th century author Jane Austen and a pupil at Tonbridge School between 1741 and 1747.

The plaque can be seen outside the Cawthorn Lecture Theatre at Tonbridge School.

Cllr Maria Heslop, cabinet member for leisure youth and arts, said: “We should be proud of our Austen connection and the latest plaque, to Jane’s father George Austen, will remind us of the Tonbridge roots of one of our greatest - and perhaps best-loved - novelists.”

After finishing school in Tonbridge Mr Austen went on to study at St John’s College, Oxford.

After he became an ordained a priest he returned to his old school to serve as its second master between 1754 and 1757.

At the same time he was as curate at Shipbourne Parish Church.

He later became Vicar of Steventon in Hampshire, where Jane was born in 1775, before he died in 1805.

The Austens originally came from Horsmonden but a branch of the family settled in Tonbridge in the early 18th century.

While there they inter-married with other well-known Tonbridge families such as the Wellers and Hoopers.

George’s father, William Austen, was a surgeon. He and other members of the family are buried in the parish church.

The blue plaque scheme is run by the borough council with support from Tonbridge Civic Society, Tonbridge Historical Society, Men of Kent and Kentish Men and the Town Wardens.

Representatives from these groups unveiled this latest plaque which is one of eight new plaques now on display around Tonbridge to bring the town’s heritage to life.