Lacock

Lacock is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, situated on the River Avon, about 3 miles west of Corsham and 20 miles east of Bath. The village is renowned for its exceptionally well-preserved medieval architecture and its association with the Lacock Abbey.

Lacock Abbey was founded in 1232 by Ela, Countess of Salisbury, as a convent for Augustinian nuns. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the abbey was purchased by Sir William Sharington in 1551, who converted much of it into a private residence. The picturesque abbey ruins and the stately home, which incorporates parts of the original monastic buildings, are now managed by the National Trust.

The village itself retains a significant amount of its historic character. Many of the buildings are thatched and date back to the 13th century. The layout and appearance of Lacock have made it a popular filming location for period dramas, most notably for several Harry Potter films and the television series Downton Abbey.

Lacock is also home to the Fox Talbot Museum, dedicated to the life and work of William Henry Fox Talbot, an inventor who made his home at Lacock Abbey and created the first photographic paper negative there in the 1830s. The museum celebrates the history of photography and its connection to the village. The local economy is largely supported by tourism, with visitors drawn to the historical sites and the idyllic rural setting.