On the Fringes of the Cotswolds, North Wiltshire Is a Picture-perfect Backdrop for Lovers of History, Heritage and Elegantly Landscaped Gardens
If the landscapes of Wiltshire’s northern reaches appear as flawless as a film set, it’s for very good reason. This corner of the county has been captured on the big and small screen in a multitude of period pieces, from Lark Rise to Candleford and Downton Abbey to Poldark.
Taking one of the lead roles is Lacock. Three miles south of Chippenham, this village of seductive stone and half-timbered houses is largely owned by the National Trust (nationaltrust.org. uk). Lacock Abbey was built as a nunnery in the 13th century and converted into a home three centuries later. The Cloisters, Chapter House and other remnants of medieval monastic life remain, blending harmoniously with its Victorian gardens. The abbey was originally founded in 1232 by Ela of Salisbury, 3rd Countess of Salisbury, who became a nun after the death of her husband and is buried in the Choir of the abbey church. In the 19th century, owner and pioneering image-maker William Henry Fox Talbot first experimented with early photographic processes here, creating the world’s first negative in 1835.
This story is from the April 2017 edition of Homes & Antiques.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 2017 edition of Homes & Antiques.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
48 hours in LEWES
As Glyndebourne Festival celebrates its 90th anniversary, there's no better time for a weekend away in the neighbouring town of Lewes in East Sussex says Sarah Riches
WE HEART ART
Visiting national art galleries and their acclaimed masterpieces is one thing, but the real satisfaction of being an art lover lies in building a collection of your own, says Caroline Wheater
The mystery COLLECTOR
One of the joys of collecting antiques is that pieces often come to us with stories attached. The story of Murray Pollinger, who built up an important collection of Samuel Alcock porcelain, is like the stuff of fiction. Fittingly so, as Willa Latham discovered...
Dream Dealers
The antique textiles trade is a collaborative one, says Celia Rufey. Here, she speaks to a few key dealers about their working practices and discovers the pieces that most pique their interest
Pride of place WINDSOR CHAIRS
These sturdy wooden stalwarts of the home are still very much in demand today. Janet Gleeson explores their story as she continues her series on regional antiques
New Romance
Having discovered this thatched cottage while holidaying in a favourite spot on the coast of the Baltic Sea, Christine Pink bought it as a weekend bolthole. However, she fell in love with the property and its surroundings and soon gave up city life
A Living Museum
Architect and artist Simon Hurst has spent years turning his everyday terraced house into a bequiling cabinet of curiosities
Queen of Vintage
Tineke Tichelaar has collected vintage design for decades, but only now have her treasures found a perfect home an old village train station with its authentic colours still intact
Ancient and MODERN
A crumbling Dorset barn nestled in a beautiful garden has been transformed into a quirky open-plan home, filled with art and antiques
FRANCES PRIEST
Dominique Corlett speaks to the ceramic artist about the language of pattern, and tiles as public art