Trust Me, It`s A National Gem. (Lacock Abbey)

Member Name: Sarahjh

Product:	Lacock Abbey
Date:	11/03/09 (135 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A good and interesting day out

Disadvantages: None

Lacock Abbey is situated in water meadows beside the River Avon in the 13th century village of Lacock in Wiltshire. Many years ago the village played a large part in the wool trade, it was alive and thriving and had three farms, carpenters, wheelwrights, a brewery plus several pubs, a mill of its own and a busy weekly market.
Today Lacock village is still prosperous but in a very different way, it is rich in tourism and it is easy to see why.
Lacock today has just a handful of shops and pubs but the tourists are spellbound by what Lacock has to offer. A high percentage of the original honey coloured Cotswold stone buildings are still in tact, these include a 14th century Tithe barn, a 15th century weavers house, a medieval church and a pack horse bridge.
As you make your way into Lacock village it is like stepping back in time, there are no visible television ariels or overhead power cables and double yellow lines simply do not exist.
This is part of Lacocks charm and the area is sought after as a film location. The Harry Potter films, the Other Boleyn Girl and Pride and Prejudice are but a few box office hits that have used the village of Lacock as a backdrop, the perfect environment to create an authentic setting.
To try and create a picture of the village for you these are some of the places you will see en route. As you take a left turn into the village there is a large car park ( free parking) and a good tearoom. In the High street you will be able to visit The National Trust shop and The Red Lion Inn is perfect for a spot of lunch, as you turn right into West Street there is another pub called The George Inn where you can also get a good lunch. West Street is also the home of the local map, print and book shop. Take a right into East street and you have The Carpenters arms, another eating house, a little further on is a jewellers shop called Watling's which offer a wonderful array of handmade jewellery.

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Lacock Abbey is cared for by the National Trust, handed over to the trust in 1946 by the Talbot family, originally founded in 1232 as an Augustinian nunnery and later converted in a country home for William Henry Fox Talbot, a pioneer in the world of photography. The Abbey is architecturally unique,a 19th century woodland style garden forms the perfect setting for the historic Abbey.
A historic collection of trees fill the woodland garden and although William Fox Talbot was known first and foremost for his scientific knowledge he took a keen interest in botany which in turn meant that the abbey grounds were filled with many different plant species.

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Maybe as a starting point we ought to cover the entrance fees, if you have a National Trust Membership then this is where you will benefit.
Looking after any ancient building is time consuming and costly and often these factors are reflected in the entrance fees.

Admission:
Abbey, Museum, Cloisters and Grounds £9.50 adult, £5.30 child, £23.90 family ( 2 adults + 2 children)
Abbey and Cloisters and grounds £8.40 adult, £4.20 child, £21 family
Museum, cloisters and Grounds, £6.30 adult, £3.20 child, £16.10 family
Museum in Winter £3.40 adult, £1.70 child, £8.70 family.

The Abbey is open daily from March to October but is closed on Tuesday and Good Friday from 1-17.30.
The National Trust have Braille and tape guides and a sympathetic hearing scheme.
Because the Abbey and Cloisters especially are uneven and on many different levels it is better to wear flat shoes.

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Lets start from the bottom and work our way up, the ground floor consists of the incredible cloisters, the warming room and the Chapter House, this is the only area of the Abbey that you get the chance to test your photographic skills!
As you take a wander through the Fan Vaulted Cloisters located at the North side of the house talk about turn your eyes heavenwards ! You are faced with enormous weathered stone arched windows and a swirling arched ceiling that has ornamental ceiling bosses where the carved stone ceiling pillars meet.
At that point you feel as though you have entered a Cathedral, above your head the architectural grandeur is breathtakingly beautiful.
Each huge arched window comprises of three sections of pale honey coloured stone and at the base of each window is a wide stone sill. Large pale slabs cover the cloister floors which glow with reflection cast from the vast expanse of window pane.
Close your eyes for a few seconds and drink in the pure tranquillity. In the silence the Augustinian Nuns are almost there beside you and the humility is tangible.
I wanted to spend time in the Cloisters, the clean air was cool, fresh and relaxing, holistically a great experience.

Wander slowly through into the Warming Room and although there is nothing remotely warm about the room the atmosphere changes. A large rough-floored area with yet more fan vaulted ceilings greet you. In the warming room there are a number of strong stone pillars which rise up to meet the ceiling, blending flawlessly , a recipe that any architect would have the greatest of admiration for.
In the centre of the Warming room there is a huge three-legged bell metal cauldron ( Mechlin pot) which dates from the 1500`s . The mighty cauldron stands on a giant stone base and at times a hearty fire was lit inside to provide the single source of heat available to the Augustinian Nuns.

Next on the agenda is the Chapter House, I expect you have a good idea as to what the room was used for.
Yes, every day before the Nuns went about their daily routine a chapter of the rule of St Benedict was read out whilst the Nuns remained seated on a circular stone bench that was placed around the edge of the Chapter room.
Many years before a fireplace that was made for William Sharington ( the first Lay owner of the house) sat in the Northern wall of the room but that has long gone.
Although the Chapter House would have been the only room with any warmth it still feels austere, its saving grace is the intricately tiled floor, 23 types of plain tile and ninety designs of inlaid tile are openly displayed and represent three centuries of flooring.

On the South-East corner of the abbey is an octagonal tower, named Sharingtons Tower. It is extremely prominent and impressive, inside is a work of art in the shape of a carved stone table . The large stone table is held by four satyrs ( Oddly a Satyr is a lecherous male!)
and the table is inscribed with the Scorpion crest which belonged to the Sharingtons.


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The upper floors of the house are so very different, the beautiful Wedgwood blue parlour with panelled walls and bolection mouldings.
Three Gothic style Oriel windows, each with small leaded panes. The central Oriel window was the subject matter of Henry Fox Talbot`s earliest photographic negative in 1835.
A wealth of hand printed 19th century wall paper is on the walls of two rooms leading off of the Blue Parlour.
Fine furniture, works of art, intricate chandeliers and row upon row of antique books.
A magnificent table takes the centre of a sage green dining room, for the most part the wooden floor is covered with a large Persian rug in hues of blue and pink.
There is much to see and admire and if you intend to look at the Abbey, the Cloisters and the grounds then you will need to make a day of it.

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The Fox Talbot Museum is well worth a visit, from time to time they hold photography exhibitions there. The museum focusses on the work of Henry Fox Talbot and the history of photography.
The museum is situated inside of a 15th century barn which lays at the entrance of the Abbey.


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Tips for a visit to Lacock Abbey.

Make sure that you don't wear high heeled shoes!...they aren't allowed in the Abbey.
No photography is allowed in the house.
If you have a pushchair or a large bag they ask you to leave them at the door, it prevents damage to the fine furniture.
Wheelchairs, an electric battery chair and a Stannah lift are available if you ask.
A disabled toilet is in the main courtyard.
You can picnic in by the river or in the playing fields but not in the Abbey grounds.
Conducted tours for groups are available but need to be arranged prior to your visit.

Although the tea rooms and pubs look lovely we have usually taken a few sandwiches and a flask to save on the pennies!
There is a museum shop if you want a souvenir to take home.
They often run a children's quiz or a trail, a good idea to keep those little ones occupied!
They have converted a 16th century barn and welcome education or community visits, if you had a special occasion the barn can also be hired out as a function room.


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Lacock Abbey is one of those experiences you never want to forget, everything about the day is special. The gardens are good to wander in, the Cloisters are an architectural wonder and the house is amazing.
The village of Laycock is worth seeing, it is quaint, picturesque and again an architectural gem.
If you choose to go during the Summer months then expect it to be very busy, it draws people from far and wide.




By road
3ml S of Chippenham. M4 exit 17, signposted to Chippenham (A350). Follow signs for Lacock, leading to main car park

Summary: An educational day out.