Stock Photo - 1968 - A root of England's History is leased by an American: Magna Carta Island and its old house taken over by Miss Alberto Bigelow: American authoress, writer of children's books and poems, Miss Alberto Catherine Bigeloe, is the new occupant of Carta Island, and its old, father forbidding early 19th century house, built on the site of a former priory. Once occupied by Sir Patrick Hannon MP, and still containing much old furniture, Miss Bigelow is bringing back the gardens and the fine trees into order. She lives there alone, except for her dogs. From it she gets a fine view through the trees of the river flowing down from Windsor to satines. Over it are the Ru-neymade Meadows, preserved, as is the island by the National Trust and Bucks County Council. In the house, with its leaded knights, is a priests hole for six men, and a Magna Carta Room with facsimiles of the Charter which gave to Englishmen rights which have been jealousy preserved down the centuries and which have served as the basis for modern democracies aboard. The room marks, according to one story, the exact spot where the King was made to sign in 1215 AD. The Island and its house has an air of loneliness about it. Visitors are not encouraged, and it has seldom been photographed. The Guardian of Magna Carta Isle: Miss Bigelow keeps A-satians as her only companions: Wandering around the old house on the Island are Miss Bigelow's pets and guards - the dogs. (Credit Image: © Keystone Pictures USA/ZUMAPRESS.com)