North Wiltshire

On the Fringes of the Cotswolds, North Wiltshire Is a Picture-perfect Backdrop for Lovers of History, Heritage and Elegantly Landscaped Gardens

- Polly Fern

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.