Long time inside Northanger Abbey (3)

I believe the answer is:

era

'long time' is the definition.
(a long period of time)

'inside northanger abbey' is the wordplay.
'inside' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'ERA' can be found hidden inside 'northanger abbey'.

(Other definitions for era that I've seen before include "Important historical period" , "quite some time" , "Long period of history" , "Geological period" , "Distinct period in history" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.

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