Pictures of Lacock Abbey

a Abbey in the town of Lacock, in the county of Wiltshire

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About Lacock Abbey

Lacock is one of the most beautiful villages in England, with houses dating from the 15th-century to the 18th-century. At the heart of the village lies the magnificent abbey founded by Ella, Countess of Salisbury in the year 1232. The abbey building is a confection of many styles and features a stunning octagonal tower, tall chimney pots and decorative mullioned windows. It remained an abbey until the reign of Henry VIII when the Dissolution of the Monasteries was caused by the Henry's wish to divorce Queen Catherine.

At the time of the Dissolution, the abbey was sold to William Sharington who made it his home. He had travelled widely on the continent and had a particular love for Italy, thus he introduced the Italian style of architecture to the alterations to be made to Lacock Abbey. When he died in 1553 having no issue, the house passed to his niece Mrs John Talbot. Between the 18th and 19th-centuries the Abbey underwent a series of alterations and the stunning Gothic revival style is a legacy from the 18th-century when alterations were made by the architect Sanderson Miller.

The Abbey remained in the ownership of the Talbot's for over 400 years. During this time the family's most famous member was William Henry Fox Talbot, who in 1835 pioneered the development of the world's first photographic negative. His subject was the oriel window in the south gallery, and today a print of the negative hangs close to the window making the house a Mecca for photographic enthusiasts. The Fox Talbot Museum of photographic memorabilia is located in a converted barn outside the abbey gates.

Lacock Abbey offers many experiences and is well worth a visit. The cloister and the chapter house are strongly atmospheric of the austere lives of the nuns who surrounded Ella when she was Abbess. Nun's followed the religious way of life at Lacock Abbey for over three centuries and this part of the abbey is in stark contrast to the luxurious Tudor accommodation introduced by William Sharington and his heirs.

The village of Lacock perfectly epitomises, and indeed exceeds ones expectations of the idyllic English village. It was given to the National Trust together with Lacock Abbey in 1944, when remaining members of the Fox-Talbot family became tenants of the National Trust.

Do not be surprised if you leave Lacock feeling that you have seen it before; it has been the setting for scenes in several noted historical drama's, including; Pride and Prejudice and Emma and Moll Flanders.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Lacock Abbey.

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Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Lacock Abbey

Bowood House & Gardens	(3.6 miles, 5.8 km, direction E)	Pictures
Farleigh Hungerford Castle	(9.5 miles, 15.3 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Prior Park, Bath	(10.3 miles, 16.6 km, direction W)	Pictures
Bath Abbey	(10.4 miles, 16.8 km, direction W)	Pictures
Bratton Camp & White Horse	(10.6 miles, 17.0 km, direction S)	Pictures
Buildings of Bath Museum	(10.6 miles, 17.1 km, direction W)	Pictures
Sally Lunns	(10.6 miles, 17.1 km, direction W)	Pictures
Bath Pump Rooms	(10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction W)	Pictures
Roman Baths	(10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction W)	Pictures
Bath Museum of Costume	(10.7 miles, 17.3 km, direction W)	Pictures

All attractions in Wiltshire
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Lacock Abbey

Lacock, a Picturesque Village in the county of Wiltshire (0.2 miles, 0.3 km)
Gatherings of graceful medieval houses line the streets of Lacock
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Reybridge, in the county of Wiltshire (0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Chippenham, in the county of Wiltshire (3.0 miles, 4.8 km, direction N)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Castle Combe, a Picturesque Village in the county of Wiltshire (7.2 miles, 11.6 km, direction NW)
As recently as 2001 it was awarded the title of 'Most Picturesque Village' by British Heritage Magazine's 2001 Traveller's Choice Awards.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Bradford-on-Avon, in the county of Wiltshire (7.5 miles, 12.1 km, direction SW)
Beautiful old town with a rich mixture of mellow Bath stone properties to be seen along ancient winding streets.
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Trowbridge, a Historic Market Town in the county of Wiltshire (7.6 miles, 12.3 km, direction SW)
Trowbridge is a historic town crammed with attractive stone buildings. It originated as a settlement along the Biss and flourished from the wool and weaving trades and from these periods there remain many magnificent merchant houses.
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Bath, in the county of Somerset (10.7 miles, 17.3 km, direction W)
Bath is an elegant city famous for its fascinating history, its beautiful Georgian architecture and its Roman remains.
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Beckhampton, in the county of Wiltshire (10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction E)
This delightful hamlet lies in one of the richest natural history area's in England, containing the burial places of people from pre-history and almost unknown centuries.
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Avebury, in the county of Wiltshire (11.6 miles, 18.6 km, direction E)
The village of Avebury is world famous for its spectacular stone circle, which some consider more spectacular than Stonehenge....
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Malmesbury, a Historic Market Town in the county of Wiltshire (11.9 miles, 19.1 km, direction N)
The town stakes its claim to be the oldest borough in England on the fact that it was granted a charter in the year 924 by King Edward
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All towns in Wiltshire
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Melksham Station	(2.5 miles, 4.1 km, direction SW)
Chippenham Station	(3.3 miles, 5.4 km, direction N)
M4 Junction 17	(7.0 miles, 11.2 km, direction N)
M4 Junction 18 (Tormarton Interchange)	(11.7 miles, 18.8 km, direction NW)
Bristol International Airport	(25.9 miles, 41.6 km, direction W)
Bournemouth Airport	(45.5 miles, 73.2 km, direction S)
Lacock Abbey to London	(86.3 miles, 138.8 km, direction E)

Accommodation & Hotels near Lacock Abbey

Hotel Name
Beechfield House Hotel	(1.8 miles, 2.8 km, direction SW)
Conigre Farm Hotel	(3.3 miles, 5.3 km, direction S)
Rudloe Hall Hotel	(4.7 miles, 7.5 km, direction W)
Best Western Lansdowne Strand Hotel	(5.2 miles, 8.3 km, direction E)
The White Hart Hotel	(5.2 miles, 8.4 km, direction E)
Lucknam Park Hotel	(6.6 miles, 10.6 km, direction NW)
Bell House Hotel & Restaurant	(6.6 miles, 10.7 km, direction N)
Leigh Park Hotel	(6.7 miles, 10.9 km, direction SW)
The Castle Hotel	(7.0 miles, 11.2 km, direction SE)
Stanton Manor Hotel & Restaurant	(7.2 miles, 11.6 km, direction N)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts