Tuesday 4th June, 2024 - Cotswolds - Lacock, Great Barrington,

After our discussion with Julieanne and Jim about Lacock Village we decided to drive the 1 1/2 hrs from Whichford, and we were so glad we did😁 

 Both the village and Lacock Abbey are owned by the National Trust.  The village dates back to Saxon times and and looks pretty much as it did 200 years ago. Lacock village has been used in many TV Series and movies including Pride and Prejudice, (twice in 1967 and 1995) Emma, Cranford, some of the sets for Harry Potter, Ronin of Sherwood and Downton Abbey

When we enquired about parking near the Abbey, (as it is quite a walk from the entrance) the attendant actually called to make sure there was parking available next to the Abbey and then proceeded to open the gates for us to drive in. 

The Abbey was built as a nunnery in the 1200's by Ela, Countess of Salisbury. It is one of the most complete surviving medieval nunneries in Britain. The nuns were forced to abandon the Monastery during the Dissolution of Monasteries in 1539 by Henry the VIII.

It then became a country house for the Sharington and Talbot families.

William Henry Fox Talbot developed the photographic negative process here back in 1835

The stone coffins were excavated from the Chapter House and the large cauldron is made of bell metal and is inscribed with the makers name and is dated 1500. It was originally used in the Abbey for cooking.

The areas above the original abbey and cloisters, have been converted into a grand country house, with many rooms paintings and accessories

This desk was apparently given to

Henry Talbot by Queen Victoria

The last room was the Hall and is quite amazing

The ceiling would make a fantastic patchwork quilt !!! maybe one day !!!

There is a central courtyard with original buildings

On the back to Whichford, we drove the Windrush, and stopped at the Fox Inn at Great Barrington for drinks

Continuing on our way, we drove though Upper and Little Rissington and then  Upper and Lower Slaughter.  Apparently all the men Upper and Lower Slaughter volunteered for WW1 and every single one of them came back home. We continued through Lower Swell before reaching our accomodation on a very big day !!!