Occupying centre-stage in one of the prettiest of all Cotswold villages.
After lunch we visited Lacock Abbey. We walked the short distance to the abbey. We were lucky that it was a beautiful day, if rather hot.
Once the home of nuns, Lacock Abbey was one of many religious communities affected by Henry VIII and his dissolution of the monasteries. Founded in the early 13th century by Ela, Countess of Salisbury as an Augustine nunnery, the Abbey was bought by Sir William Sharington in the 16th century. He and his family lived there and it became a fascinating and quirky home.
The main house was built over the old cloisters which were interesting to walk round. One can image the nuns walking through the cloisters in silence, praying in the chapel and going about their daily business.
Over the years the Abbey has had many additions and alterations, but we enjoyed walking through the various rooms. It's easy to imagine it as the setting for scenes from the Harry Potter movies.
In the 19th century William Henry Fox Talbot resided here, and he made what is generally regarded as the earliest surviving camera negative, which was one of the windows.
The village itself is full of pretty houses and buildings, many of which have featured in films such as Harry Potter and TV shows such as Cranford and Downton Abbey.
No comments:
Post a Comment