WILTSHIRE

Another county easily reachable from Dorset, Wiltshire has been somewhat marred by huge tracts of Salisbury Plain being under the control of the MoD. It does though, contain what is probably our most revered Pagan and Druid site, Stonehenge, as well as delightful Salisbury and completely unspoilt Lacock.

LACOCK

SALISBURY

LACOCK

Hardly surprising that Lacock has been used in such films and TV series as 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'Cranford'. The village is totally unspoilt. Even though it lay on the direct route from London to Bath, it was bypassed, and that was the saving of it. Even some of the pavements are not surfaced. 

Lacock Abbey, and most of the village, is owned by the National Trust, which is how it has remained largely unspoilt. Because it is so unspoilt, it is used a lot for historical films and TV dramas, and in return, because it is so used, all services are laid underground and there are no TV aerials, sky dishes, or cables to spoil the views. Once the cars are moved out to the adjacent car park, there's is nothing to say that you haven't just taken a trip back into the past. 

The subject of the world's first photograph is a latticed window, which can be seen in the south gallery of Lacock Abbey, once home to photography pioneer, William Henry Fox Talbot.

The abbey was founded in 1232, and after the Reformation, passed into the Talbot family, where it remained until 1958

(below) the width of the High Street reflects its' use for markets and fairs. 

The world's first photograph was taken in the nearby Lacock Abbey in 1835, and is on display inside the Fox Talbot photographic museum, housed in the 16th. century tithe barn 

(below) although now repurposed as a bus shelter, this building originally was a smithy.

(below) the War Memorial was made from the stone framework of the tomb of Sir John Talbot, taken from the church.

(below) The Porch House, with its' two-storey timber-framed porch. 

SALISBURY

The tall slender tower of Salisbury Cathedral can be seen for miles. The town itself is pretty too. At 404 feet, it is the tallest spire in England.

This building on the West Walk of the Cathedral Close is known as 'The Wardrobe', and is home to the Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum.  Further along the West Walk, is the King's House, which is home to the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum.