I only had made a short stop in Lacock during my last time in the Cotswolds and back then decided to come back and visit the Abbey, not only one of the many sets of Harry Potter or Downton Abbey but also the birthplace of photography.
When I then stumbled over “Snoozums #11” I just had to stay for a night and take the time to explore Lacock more and just spend some time at this cosy place!
It was hard to leave Castle Combe that fabulous four-post-bed and as there were still no buses running I had to travel by cab again – quite the experience! Lacock awaited me with snow and sunshine, perfect combination! But the main reason for visiting, Lacock Abbey, was closed because of the snow… so I´ll probably have to visit again another time!
I started my visit with sipping the most delicious hot chocolate from CoCo Chemistry and just wandering around the village. Lacock is one of the oldest villages in England.
Nine hundred years ago, the Countess of Salisbury founded Lacock Abbey, the focal point of the area, from which the village you see today sprang into life.
The early-middle ages saw Lacock as a flourishing woollen mill village; its proximity to the London and Bath road ensured it retained influence and commerce. Over time, it gave way to larger towns but the village remained intact with its myriad of architectural styles. Stone houses and timber-framed houses stand side by side. Memories of the woollen trade are visible all around; (Visit Lacock)
In 1944 Matilda betrusted the Abbey and the houses to the National Trust who owns them and is responsible for their upkeeping. If there wouldn´t be cars walking around Lacock would be like travelling in time, probably one of the reasons many movies and TV shows are filmed here. To name a few: Harry Potter, Cranford, Downton Abbey and the upcoming HBO presentation of William Shakespeare.
