Lacock abbey, village and fox talbot museum great west way. Private fullday tour of lacock abbey and avebury stone circle from london. Lacock was first mentioned in the domesday book in 1086 with a population of less than 200. We recommend booking lacock abbey tours ahead of time to secure your spot.
Want to learn more about the history of lacock or interested in the filming that goes on here then why not explore this site and then book a walking tour with a resident. Written by popular architectural historian kathryn ferry, lacock wiltshire unravels the long and complex history of a medieval abbey turned country home. Lacock abbey, located in the centre of the village was founded in the th century and dissolved in 1539. The medieval landscape was dominated by melksham forest, which came right up to the village and stretched for 33 miles to the south and east. It was countess ela who founded lacock abbey in 1232 in memory of her husband, william longswoth, stepbrother to richard the lionheart. The lacock unlocked section of this website will look at greater detail about what the archives contain and how they are being made accessible to the public. The village and parish of lacock lies between the towns of melksham and. Lacock is an immaculate village, seemingly frozen in time, and one of the uks. Lacock abbey, village and fox talbot museum visit wiltshire. Lacock is centrally based between chippenham, melksham, bath and swindon we are the perfect place for friends and family.
There was another saxon settlement at lackham, whose name could be old english for the village where leeks, or garden plants generally, grew. Read about lacock village in the cotswolds on our blog. According to tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience lacock abbey. Bath, avebury and lacock village smallgroup day tour from london. Lacock is one of the oldest villages in england and almost entirely owned by the national trust. In the domesday book, lacock is said to have belonged to edward salisbury, sheriff of wiltshire. Estimating population from the domesday returns is difficult but modern interpretation of the record would suggest a population for lacock of between 160 and 190 and for lackham between 170 and 200.
Based in the th century national trust village of lacock within easy walking distance of the historical lacock abbey, the saxon church of st cyriac, the 15th century tithe barn and plenty of village stores and craft fairs. The village is owned almost in its entirety by the national trust, and attracts many. Lacock abbey in the village of lacock, wiltshire, england, was founded in the early th century by ela, countess of salisbury, as a nunnery of the augustinian order. Lacock village is a beautifully preserved place in wiltshire, and its been around for a while. The village is owned almost in its entirety by the national trust, and attracts many visitors by virtue of its unspoiled appearance and historical roots. The people, places, favourite documents and maps through time pages all look closer at the lacock archives held at. Lacock was recorded in the domesday book as belonging to edward of salisbury, sheriff of wiltshire, an ancestor of ela who founded the abbey. Lacock professional family history, family trees, genealogy, house and ancestry research service by professional genealogist uk and local history research. Scenic village of lacock in wiltshire with famous abbey. Visually and socially the most noticeable difference between the lacock of 1900 and of 1975 is the disappearance of the shops and businesses that once were the major employers of and providers for the village community. Just outside of bath is a small village called lacock.
At the time of the domesday book, 1086, the settlements at lacock and lackham. One of the main draws of lacock is that its kept looking exactly as it did hundreds of years ago. However, if you do want to make a day of it, you can always go for a nice stroll around the grounds if you have a dog its welcome, wander around the village and look at the gorgeous shops and scenery. Experience this intriguing abbey, country house and village, 800 years in the making, and a. Since that time, the national trust has attempted to maintain the 17th and 18th century character of the village by avoiding obtrusive modernization. The astonishing lacock abbey is situated in the heart of the picturesque village of lacock, wiltshire, uk, with its limewashed, halftimbered stone houses, this is the perfect place for a. The name lacock dates from saxon times when the earliest permanent settlers lived by the bide brook, which runs through the middle of the. Exploring medieval lacock village and lacock abbey kids.
The perfectly preserved village is popular with visitors and it and the nearby lacock abbey have also been used for many film shoots, not least. The countess of salisbury founded lacock abbey in 1232, the village being part of the abbeys lands. During the middle ages lacock was granted a market and developed a thriving wool industry. The saxons called the bide brook, which flows through the village, lacuc meaning little stream. The abbeys medieval rooms and cloister court have earned it roles in major movies, such as the harry potter films and the other boleyn girl. Lacock village hall and the adjoining manor room are located on east street. The surname lacock was first found in laycock, now a a suburb of the town of keighley in the west riding of yorkshire. Eat and shop in the village streets, and experience life in lacock by staying in the holiday cottage. Lacock village paperback march 1, 1981 by national trust author 5. Harry potter filming locations in lacock you need to visit. The nunnery was founded in 1232 by ela, countess of salisbury, in memory of her husband william longespee, the illegitimate son of henry ii and halfbrother of richard the lionheart. Lacock abbey was founded in the early thirteenth century and most.
Lacock, just four miles south of chippenham, is probably the most beautifully preserved village in the cotswolds this is largely thanks to ela, countess of salisbury, first and only female sheriff of wiltshire. Lacock was inhabited at the time of the domesday book, but it didnt begin to thrive until the early thirteenth century. Laco ck abbey was founded on the manorial lands by ela, countess of salisbury and established in 1232. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund.
Lacock village wiltshire britain all over travel guide. At the time of the domesday book, 1086, the settlements at lacock and lackham were roughly similar in size although lacock possibly had a small church. Youve probably never heard of it, but there are in fact many harry potter filming locations in this tiny british village. The entire village of lacock is managed by the national trust. Lacock is situated in the county of wiltshire in an area of outstanding natural beauty with a rich tradition and heritage. The national trust is primarily responsible for the vast majority of the houses located within but its the rich diverseness of the village and surrounding community that makes lacock so special. The villages main attraction lacock abbey was founded on the manorial lands by ela, countess of salisbury and established in 1232. Both facilities are available for hire for celebrations, childrens parties, events and commercial bookings etc the hall can comfortably seat around 100 people, is equipped with catering facilities, a projector and stage. All that and jesting aside, lacock is a visual delight.
Past discoveries is a genealogical and family history research company offering a friendly and efficient service to those who wish to find out more about their family history. Lacock grew with the wool trade, a major medieval industry. Stonehenge and lacock if your time in bath is limited, then this tour is an essential. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive. The domesday book mentions lacock as having a population of 160190, with a vineyard and two mills founded on the manorial lands by the countess of salisbury lacock abbey was established in 1232. The village later grew alongside the abbey, flourishing as a wool producer conveniently located along the route between london and bath. Lacock was mentioned in the domesday book of the norman period, with a population of just 160 190 people.
Lacock project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. Visit lacock abbey on your trip to lacock or united kingdom. In medieval times melksham forest surrounded the village and king johns hunting lodge, next to the church was where king john 1167 1216, lord of the manor of melksham, frequently stayed during. Lacock was granted a market and developed a thriving wool industry during the middle ages.
Lacock abbey 2020 all you need to know before you go. A traditional english pub thats steeped in history, dating back to the 14th century, the george inn is in the national trust village of lacock in the beautiful county of wiltshire. Stonehenge and lacock stonehenge tours cotswold tours. It existed over years ago a small settlement of under 200 people with a couple of mills and a vineyard. Though touted as an eighteenth century village, several buildings date to an earlier time. Lacock is mentioned in the domesday book of 1086 and lacock abbey was founded on the manorial lands by ela, countess of salisbury in 1232. Lacock abbey is a beautiful country abbey, formerly the home of william henry fox talbot, a pioneer of early photography. Lacock unlocked wiltshire and swindon history centre. We pride ourselves on supporting local businesses therefore, our menus provide a wide selection of fresh, locally supplied food. Lacock began life as an augustinian nunnery, and many of the underpinnings of the house show its monastic origins. The domesday book mentions lacock as having a population of 160190, with a.
The name lacock dates from saxon times when the earliest permanent settlers lived by the bide brook, which runs through the middle of the village. Lacock national trust village it is always a favourite of madmax tours to travel to the beautiful village of lacock which has a history that goes back before the domesday book. Lacock is a village in the rural county of wiltshire, england, 3 miles 5 km from the town of chippenham. Reybridge, and a pack horse ford, remained the only crossing points of the river avon until the 17th century. This includes the abbey rooms, courtyard tearoom, high street shop, fox talbot museum, visitor reception, stables cafe and abbey grounds. It is always a favourite of madmax tours to travel to the beautiful village of lacock which has a history that goes back before the domesday book. Harry potter places in lacock abbey and village youtube.