For me no trip to a country house or stately home is complete without a visit to the local church and a walk around the churchyard. So, following my tour of Avebury Manor and the Art in the Garden exhibition I popped next door to the Church of St James. A list of incumbents revealed that the Mayo family put in a lot of service (and services too, no doubt) from 1712 to 1823 and then I discovered the following plaque:- The clock in this tower was erected in loving memory of Isabella Horsley Mayo Who died 5 January 1883 and lies buried in the adjoining churchyard 1883 The parish register reveals that prior to her death Isabella was living at Stoke next Guildford. She was buried on January 10, 1883 and the service was conducted by Charles Herbert Mayo, Vicar of Long Burton with Holmert, Dorset, Rural Dean. She was 46 years old. Where did Isabella fit in to this clerical family and what was the story of her life? Was she a latter-day Jane Austen type figure, only wit...