] Reasons togo to Chawton , apart from James being able to ride over...

] 1) Henry had tried to buy the rectorship of Chawton, but hadn't succeeded. He did end up being a curate there. There does seem to be an overall Austen /night interest in the living, apart from the fact that it was Edward who had the advowson.

] 2) Frank was living there! His wife gave birth to a girl just after they arrived.

] 3) Edward sent his sons to nearby Winchester School- I'm not sure when that started, but I do know that the Austen's cottage provided a convenient 'break' in the journey from WInchester to Godnmersham, and the Austen ladies saw a lot of Edward's boys this way.

] 4) Although there are Kentish Austens, they were not really close to Godmersham, and there doesn't seem to have been any really strong family ties to that area...as far as I can see, anyway.

] Amazing what one chapter of Dierdre LeFaye will reveal....!