Lacock Abbey and Fox Talbot Museum

A medieval abbey, a fine country house and a homage to photographic history surrounded by an unspoilt 13th century village.

There is much to see at Lacock. The abbey, a popular first on the tourist agenda, was founded in 1232 by the Countess of Salisbury as an unusual tribute to her husband. The dissolution of the monasteries saw ownership of the abbey turn to William Sharington, who converted the religious house into a fitting gentleman's residence. Thankfully, he considered the careful preservation of original features such as the cloisters, sacristy and monastic chambers to be as important as the construction of his country house extras;, such as a handsome stable yard, a clockhouse brewery and a bakehouse.

It would be contentious to proclaim Lacock Abbey the 'birthplace of photography'. However, as the home of William Henry Fox Talbot (inventor of the positive/negative photographic process) and the site of his very first 'photograph' (a rather uninspiring composition of a window), it must be a serious contender for the title. The Fox Talbot Photographic Museum, commemorating the life and achievements of the 19th century mathematician, physicist, classicist, philologist etc, is located at the abbey's entrance in a 15th century barn.

A short stroll from the abbey to the nearby village transports you back several centuries in time. Lacock village is a charming testament to its 13th century roots with irregular lime-washed, timbered and honey-toned stone cottages exuding an unruffled air. Given to the National Trust in 1940, the village has been carefully guarded against the stealthy advance of 21st century trappings, and the quiet streets are blissfully untroubled by double yellow lines, overhead cables or TV aerials.

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