Lacock, North Wiltshire
April 21, 2010 | In: General
Lacock is a charming rural village not far from Chippenham in North Wiltshire. It dates back to the 13th century and is owned by the National Trust. It has picturesque streets and beautiful limewashed, half-timbered houses and is therefore well worth a visit.
Lacock was a small Saxon settlement that became notable in later years. It thrived in the Middle Ages because of its wool industry. The village was well positioned on the ‘cloth road’ from London and the sea was accessible via the River Avon. After the wool industry declined, Lacock survived as a staging post with its many inns being used frequently. More recently, the village has been used for TV and film productions such as Harry Potter, Pride and Prejudice, Moll Flanders and Emma because it has largely been visually untouched by the modern world.
The famous Abbey in the village was founded by Ela, the Countess of Salisbury, wife of the illegitimate son of Henry II. It is at the heart of the village and has lovely wooded grounds. The cloisters are beautiful and the chapter house and monastic rooms are definately worth a visit. If you visit in spring, the flowers in the grounds give a wonderful feast for the eyes. The grounds also contain an 18th century summer house, a ha-ha, and a Victorian rose garden. Throughout the year there are various events so check before you go if you want to catch something extra on your visit.
Lacock boasts The Museum of Photography, dedicated to William Fox Talbot, the notable photographer. Fox Talbot lived in the Abbey and is known to have added latticed windows that he then photographed. The image can still be seen today. In 1840, his experiments with photographic processes led to the discovery of the negative-positive process. This was used widely for many years until digital photography started to take over in more recently. He died in 1877.
Interesting rural events happen in the village throughout the year. An annual scarecrow festival is held that is fun to see. A theme will be set and villagers create scarecrows in a bid to be judged the best. The creations are quite inventive and brighten up the village for a brief period.
The George Inn is notable. It is a lovely pub. Interestingly, it has a turnspit-dog wheel that used specially bred dogs running inside it to power the inn’s meat spit. The dogs were short-legged with long bodies but are now an extinct breed. The wheel survives in the pub and is a popular attraction, along with the food and beer.
Lacock is a beautiful village that is unlike others. If you want a relaxed day in this lovely area, why not make a day of it.
If you are looking for whats on in Wiltshire, try Lacock, near Chippenham Wiltshire.
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