Excursus to Burnham ...

Not only is Ursula Bethell's family history interesting vis a vis why she visited some places in England or New Zealand or even around the world, and not others, but so, too, is the research I have done into land in New Zealand owned by her father and her maternal grandfather.

At the moment I am busily being distracted by the history of Burnham, Canterbury, New Zealand, which Ursula's father, Richard Bethell, named, having bought land in the area, and having lived at Burnham Beeches in Bucks in England.

Farming, transits of Venus, an Industrial School, a Military Camp, and All Saints' Garrison Church at Burnham, Military Camp - all are part of the story, including Ursula designing the brass plaque her mother gifted to the church in memory of Richard.  Ursula also ordered the bell in the church's bell-tower - making sure the tone of the church bell was sufficiently different from the tone of the fire bell so that people didn't rush off to fight fires when they should have been a-going to church!