Lacock
Encyclopedia
Lacock is a village in Wiltshire
, England, 3 miles (5 km) from the town of Chippenham
. The village is owned almost in its entirety by the National Trust
, and attracts many visitors by virtue of its unspoiled appearance.
Lacock is mentioned in the Domesday book
, with a population of 160–190; with two mills and a vineyard. Lacock Abbey
was founded on the manorial lands by Ela, Countess of Salisbury
and established in 1232; and the village — with the manor — formed its endowment to "God and St Mary". Lacock was granted a market and developed a thriving wool
industry during the Middle Ages
. Reybridge, and a pack horse ford, remained the only crossing points of the River Avon until the 17th century.
At the Dissolution
, the Abbey and estate, including the village were sold to William Sharington
, later passing into the Talbot family by marriage.
Most of the surviving houses are 18th century or earlier in construction. There is a 14th century tithe barn
, a medieval church, and an inn dating from the 15th century and an 18th century lock-up
.
In 1916 Charles Henry Fox Talbot bequeathed the Lacock estate to his niece, Matilda Gilchrist-Clark, who took the name of Talbot. The estate was given to the National Trust in 1944 by Matilda Talbot – comprising 284 acres (1.1 km²), the Abbey, and the village.
The village has been used as a film and television set, notably for the 1995 BBC
production of Pride and Prejudice
, the 2007 BBC
production of Cranford. It has also made brief appearances in the Harry Potter
films Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
.
...aka Robin Hood (1985) (TV) (Philippines: English title: theatrical title)
...aka Robin Hood: The Legend, Part 1 (1983) (TV)
...aka "Fred Dibnah's Magnificent Monuments" (2000) (UK: complete title)
...aka Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) (USA)
...aka "Fred Dibnah's Building of Britain" (2002) (UK: complete title)
...aka Half-Blood Prince, The (2008) (USA: short title)
2011 Warhorse
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, England, 3 miles (5 km) from the town of Chippenham
Chippenham, Wiltshire
Chippenham is a market town in Wiltshire, England, located east of Bath and west of London. In the 2001 census the population of the town was recorded as 28,065....
. The village is owned almost in its entirety by the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
, and attracts many visitors by virtue of its unspoiled appearance.
History
- Main Article: History of LacockHistory of LacockLacock was first mentioned in the Domesday book in 1086 with a population of less than 200; with two small mills and a vineyard. The village's main attraction Lacock Abbey was founded on the manorial lands by Ela, Countess of Salisbury and established in 1232; in the reign of King Henry III. Lacock...
Lacock is mentioned in the Domesday book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
, with a population of 160–190; with two mills and a vineyard. Lacock Abbey
Lacock Abbey
Lacock Abbey in the village of Lacock, Wiltshire, England, was founded in the early 13th century by Ela, Countess of Salisbury, as a nunnery of the Augustinian order.- History :...
was founded on the manorial lands by Ela, Countess of Salisbury
Ela, Countess of Salisbury
Ela of Salisbury, 3rd Countess of Salisbury was a wealthy English heiress and the suo jure Countess of Salisbury, having succeeded to the title in 1196 upon the death of her father, William FitzPatrick, 2nd Earl of Salisbury...
and established in 1232; and the village — with the manor — formed its endowment to "God and St Mary". Lacock was granted a market and developed a thriving wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
industry during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. Reybridge, and a pack horse ford, remained the only crossing points of the River Avon until the 17th century.
At the Dissolution
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
, the Abbey and estate, including the village were sold to William Sharington
William Sharington
Sir William Sharington was an English courtier of the time of Henry VIII, master and embezzler of the Bristol Mint, member of parliament, conspirator, and High Sheriff of Wiltshire.-Early life:...
, later passing into the Talbot family by marriage.
Most of the surviving houses are 18th century or earlier in construction. There is a 14th century tithe barn
Tithe barn
A tithe barn was a type of barn used in much of northern Europe in the Middle Ages for storing the tithes - a tenth of the farm's produce which had to be given to the church....
, a medieval church, and an inn dating from the 15th century and an 18th century lock-up
Village lock-up
Village lock-ups are historic buildings that were used for the temporary detention of people in rural parts of England and Wales. They were often used for the confinement of drunks who were usually released the next day or to hold people being brought before the local magistrate. A typical village...
.
In 1916 Charles Henry Fox Talbot bequeathed the Lacock estate to his niece, Matilda Gilchrist-Clark, who took the name of Talbot. The estate was given to the National Trust in 1944 by Matilda Talbot – comprising 284 acres (1.1 km²), the Abbey, and the village.
Film set
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
production of Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice (1995 TV serial)
Pride and Prejudice is a six-episode 1995 British television drama, adapted by Andrew Davies from Jane Austen's 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice. Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth starred as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Produced by Sue Birtwistle and directed by Simon Langton, the serial was a BBC...
, the 2007 BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
production of Cranford. It has also made brief appearances in the Harry Potter
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...
films Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the first novel in the Harry Potter series written by J. K. Rowling and featuring Harry Potter, a young wizard...
and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth and penultimate novel in the Harry Potter series by British author J. K. Rowling...
.
Corsham Road Estate
The Corsham road estate on Corsham road in Lacock was built by North Wiltshire Council in 1962 as affordable housing was needed in the parish. The land was purchased from the Self family, who own and run Whitehall Garden Centre, in 1961. The estate consists of 30 houses and bungalows, 21 Garages and a purpose built block of 18 flats, known as Rosemary House. Most of the dwellings are now owned and rented to tenants by Westlea Housing Association. During the building of the estate North Wiltshire council decided that a children's play area was needed and located this to the south of Rosemary House next to a communal green area.List of Productions
- 1958 - The MoonrakerThe MoonrakerThe Moonraker is a 1958 British historical drama film set during the English Civil War. It was directed by David MacDonald and starred George Baker, Sylvia Sims, Marius Goring, Gary Raymond, Peter Arne, John Le Mesurier and Patrick Troughton....
- 1960 - The Grass Is GreenerThe Grass Is GreenerThe Grass Is Greener is a 1960 comedy film featuring an ensemble cast consisting of screen veterans Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr, Robert Mitchum, and Jean Simmons,directed by Stanley Donen...
- 1965 - Play of the MonthPlay of the MonthPlay of the Month is a BBC television anthology series featuring productions of classic and contemporary stage plays which were usually broadcast on BBC1. Each production featured a different work, often using prominent British stage actors in the leading roles...
(The Recruiting Officer) TV Episode - 1965 - The Secret of My Success
- 1967 - Pride and Prejudice TV Series
- 1983 - Robin Hood and the Sorcerer TV
...aka Robin Hood (1985) (TV) (Philippines: English title: theatrical title)
...aka Robin Hood: The Legend, Part 1 (1983) (TV)
- 1983 - Treasure Hunt Wiltshire TV Episode
- 1984 - Robin of SherwoodRobin of SherwoodRobin of Sherwood , was a British television series, based on the legend of Robin Hood. Created by Richard Carpenter, it was produced by HTV in association with Goldcrest, and ran from 1984 to 1986 on the ITV network. In America it was retitled Robin Hood and shown on the premium cable TV channel...
: TV Series aka "Robin Hood" (USA)- Cromm Cruac
- Robin Hood and the Sorcerer
- The Pretender
- 1989 - The Woman in Black TV
- 1995 - Pride and PrejudicePride and Prejudice (1995 TV serial)Pride and Prejudice is a six-episode 1995 British television drama, adapted by Andrew Davies from Jane Austen's 1813 novel Pride and Prejudice. Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth starred as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Produced by Sue Birtwistle and directed by Simon Langton, the serial was a BBC...
for the BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff... - 1996 - Emma
- 1996 - Moll Flanders
- 1997 - Henry VIII (mini) TV Series
- 2000 - Bargain HuntBargain HuntBargain Hunt is a British television programme in which two pairs of contestants are challenged to buy antiques at a fair and then sell them in an auction for a profit. It has aired on BBC One since 13 March 2000 in a daytime version and from 22 August 2002 to 13 November 2004 in a primetime version...
TV Series - 2000 - Harry Potter movies
- 2000 - Magnificent MonumentsFred DibnahFrederick "Fred" Dibnah MBE , born in Bolton, was an English steeplejack and eccentric with a keen interest in mechanical engineering who became a cult television personality....
TV Series
...aka "Fred Dibnah's Magnificent Monuments" (2000) (UK: complete title)
- 2000 - Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)Randall & Hopkirk is a British television series, produced by Working Title Films for BBC One. It is a remake of the 1960s television series Randall and Hopkirk and stars Vic Reeves as Hopkirk and Bob Mortimer as Randall, Emilia Fox as Jeannie, and Tom Baker as Wyvern.- Background :Two series...
TV Series
- 2001 - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneHarry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is the first novel in the Harry Potter series written by J. K. Rowling and featuring Harry Potter, a young wizard...
(2001) (UK)
...aka Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) (USA)
- 2002 - Building of BritainFred DibnahFrederick "Fred" Dibnah MBE , born in Bolton, was an English steeplejack and eccentric with a keen interest in mechanical engineering who became a cult television personality....
TV Series
...aka "Fred Dibnah's Building of Britain" (2002) (UK: complete title)
- 2003 - The Mayor of Casterbridge (mini) TV Series
- 2007 - Cranford for the BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
- 2008 - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceHarry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth and penultimate novel in the Harry Potter series by British author J. K. Rowling...
...aka Half-Blood Prince, The (2008) (USA: short title)
- 2008 - The Other Boleyn Girl
- 2008 - The Wolf ManThe Wolf Man (2009 film)The Wolfman is a 2010 American remake of the 1941 classic werewolf horror film of the same name. This film's second half was significantly altered and expanded from the original film's plot. Directed by Joe Johnston, the film stars Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt and Hugo Weaving...
- 2009 - Cranford (Christmas special) for the BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
2011 Warhorse
Scarecrow festival
A scarecrow festival is held annually in Lacock. It is usually popular with visitors from the local area. In 2006 the theme for the festival was Fictitious Heroes and villains, although it changes annually.External links
- Lacock Abbey, Fox Talbot Museum & Village information at the National Trust
- Corsham and Lacock Churches Web Site
- Pictures from filming of Cranford at the Wiltshire TimesWiltshire TimesThe Wiltshire Times is a weekly newspaper published in Trowbridge, Wiltshire in South West England. The paper serves the west Wiltshire towns of Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge, Corsham, Chippenham, Warminster, Westbury and Melksham as well as many of the small villages in the west Wiltshire...