1232 ad as a nunnery. After the dissolution of the monastries, it was sold to Sir Willian Sharington, who in 1539 ad began transforming it into a family home. He preserved the beautiful medieval cloisters, and added a three storey tower in Italian Renaissance style. He also built a stable courtyard complete with brewery and bake house.
Sharington's descendants have been connected with the abbey ever since, the most renowned being William Henry Fox Talbot
(1800-77),photographic pioneer and inventor of the negative/positive photographic process. (Next post)
Lacock Abbey together with most of the village, Manor farm and Bewley Common was donated to The National Trust by Matilda Talbot between 1944 and 1946.
Having walked through the parkland we arrive at the entrance
The converted stable block
I am definitely not a fan of Harry Potter but the Philosopher's Stone was filmed here in the cloisters
This is the only place that still has a 1500 ad Couldron. Queen Ann visited here and records show that a side of bacon and a sack of peas were boiled in this couldron at the time
This large stone tank is where the fish (usually carp) were kept to be eaten on Fridays as the tradition (which still exists in some parts) was not to eat meat on a Friday
Outer walls dismantled to show original artwork behind (double-clicking will show these more clearly)
The original floor
More artwork discovered when brickwork stripped away
There are some nice gardens here but we are preferring to visit the Fox Talbot Museum in the grounds before calling it a day. I will save this for my next post.
The original floor
More artwork discovered when brickwork stripped away
There are some nice gardens here but we are preferring to visit the Fox Talbot Museum in the grounds before calling it a day. I will save this for my next post.
15 comments:
Years ago I visited Lacock with my mother, and loved it. Thank you for reviving memories!
Wow..thank you Barbara for sharing. How wonderful it must be to be able to walk in this awesome place.
Blessings!
Absolutely fantastic!!!!
This was what I call a huge treat to see all of this.
AWESOME.
Pray that you are doing well.
Enjoy your blog,
d
Very interesting. I wonder what it was like to live in a place such as this. I like your photos, as always. I'm so glad you are showing us Lacock, as we did not get a chance to visit there in June.
Again some beautiful photos Barbara and a history lesson too!!! Not so sure about the cookery though - bacon and peas.... I think I'd prefer cabbage!!!!
That is such a beautiful place, Barbara. The history behind it is so interesting as well.
Like you, I am not a fan of HP, but I can see the great potential of filming there.
Very interesting place to visit.
Paz
Barbara,
How interesting! It must be an odd feeling to actually walk some place that has such an old history.
I am so glad you were able to keep in touch with me on my blog...although I have been neglecting it as of late. Glad we are still able to be "blogging buddies"!
Every time you post photos, I say the same thing: "How beautiful!" and "I want to visit there someday!" The portal, the cloister, the artwork- so lovely it makes my heart 'hurt'.
I really love that arched gateway. And all those columns.
lovely and very interesting place... regards from the mediterranean
Don't know much about HP, but I never tire of seeing the magnificent, hundreds-of-years-old architecture in these lovely old places. As always, you are faithful to give us the history as well as the fabulous photos, and we are all the better for it.
Blessings,
Christi
Yes, I was about to ask about Fox Talbot.
This is definitely on my list of places to visit!
What a fabulous place. It is wonderful that some of the Medieval art work has survived. Love the graceful ceiling shapes too.
Thanks for the tour.
It is amazing to see all the detail that was put into this Abby. Why someone would cover up this artwork with brickwork is beyond me. They must have no appreciation for the arts!
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