Hi, let’s go and discover the National Trust village of Lacock in Wiltshire.
Lacock can be found in the southwest of the UK, just under 15 miles from the city of Bath and just over 100 from London.
The nearest railway station is at Chippenham, 4 miles to the north of the village.
And there is a large car park a few hundred meters from the heart of the village, which is free for National Trust members.
So, without further ado, let's take a look around Lacock.
Lacock is relatively small, so it won’t take too long, but in that time, I’ll give you a brief history of the village, and explain why you will want to visit.
If you wish to stay and explore the area a little more, I’ll give you a list of options, including the beautiful Red Lion Pub on our left.
The Red Lion is a Wadworth pub, brewer of the most excellent 6X, but I am getting distracted.
Lacock sits on the outskirts of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding National beauty, and would make an excellent base to explore further.
But we are here to talk about Lacock, so let's kick off.
It's mentioned in the Domesday book of 1086, it had two owners, Edward of Salisbury and Alfred of Marlborough.
That in front of us is the National Trust Shop, selling all manner of desirable goods.
We picked up two galvanised planters for our courtyard patio at home.
Anyway, back to the history of the Lacock.
Lacock Abbey was founded on the edge of the village by Ela, Countess of Salisbury in 1232.
As you look up and down the high street, you see a scene that hasn't changed in over a 100 years, apart from the cars.
But some of the exteriors hide a much older building inside.
And now another distraction, the village shop, and it sells local ice-cream.
The village thrived in the middle ages as a centre for woollen production.
Lacock Abbey was doing well too, until one Henry VIII had a bust-up with Rome.
The dissolution of the monasteries led to the Abbey and village being sold to William Sharington, one of the King's courtiers.
As the centuries passed, the Lacock estate moved, through marriage, into the hands of the Talbot family.
Ahhh, more distractions. we arrive at Quintessentially English, another delightful little shop to tempt you.
Another temptation, The George Inn, another Wadworth pub, with a 14th-century heart, a restaurant & accommodation.
Now, where was I? ah, the Talbots.
Our interest gets piqued with Henry Fox Talbot, 1800 -1877 and an early innovator in the photographic process.
But that story belongs to Lacock Abbey, which will feature in its own video
So don't forget to subscribe, and hit that notification bell, so you don't miss that.
It was Henry Fox Talbot's niece, Matilda, that bequeathed the Lacock Estate to the National Trust in 1944.
Now another place I need to point out is the Sign of the Angel, a 15th-century coaching inn, a great place to stay
and a Harry Potter filming location.
In fact, Lacock has also appeared in Downton Abbey, Pride and Prejudice, Cranford and Wolf Hall. It does look like a movie set, doesn't it?
A little factoid - Lacock is the childhood home of Zoe and Joe Sugg of YouTube fame.
Also closeby, the Queen Consort, Camillia, has a country home at Ray Mill house, under a mile from the centre of the village.
If you want to discover more of the landscape around Lacock I'd recommend the OS Maps App
I'll pop a link in the descriptions so you can check that out.
And here we have St Cyriac's Church, the village church.
And that of course means one thing, a stroll around the graveyard.
We are now going to return to Church Street and head along East Street.
This means we have covered the four streets that makeup Lacock - I said it was small.
Along East Street you'll find the medieval Tithe Barn that dates from the 14th-century, probably as part of the boundary of the Abbey
You're free to walk in and just take a look around.
At the end of East Street we rejoin the High Street, and that Red Lion pub.
We would but we've got to check out the Abbey. Are you going to join us to take a look next time?
Thanks so much for watching, stay safe, stay well and happy travels