The abbey was founded by the Countess of Salisbury in 1229 for Augustinian Canonesses. It prospered throughout the middle ages. It was bought by William Henry Fox Talbot (1800-77). He was part of a scientific and enlightened group of men, which led him to discover the process of photography. The first photograph is said to have been taken from the windows of Lacock Abbey.In August 1835 Talbot made the earliest known surviving photographic negative using a wooden camera.The rare small photogenic image of the latticed window in the south gallery of Lacock is now in the collection of the Science Museum at Bradford, UK.Colour photograph of Abbey, Lacock, United Kingdomlacock abbey, church

Lacock was on the main London to Bristol road until the road was re-routed through Chippenham. There are no obvious signs of the 21st century in this National Trust village, except the motor car. It has been run by the National Trust since 1944 and residents are on a lease. The oldest house in the village is King John's Hunting Lodge, parts of which date back to the 13th century. In this village there are buildings from every century since right up until the 18th century. The abbey was founded in 1229 by Ela, Countess of Salisbury. Lacock village and abbey were used as the set in the Harry Potter films.Dorothy Wickham and Peta Knott, formerly of Museums Australia (Vic) currently working as a marine archaeologist in England. Taken at Lacock National Trust Village, United Kingdomdorothy wickham, peta knott, lacock national trust village