Here’s a report from Peter Horry about the recent trip to Lacock on August 6th 2026, along with his sepia photos in honour of Henry Fox-Talbot.

“When I asked those who went on the trip to Lacock “what did they enjoy most about their day out?”, there was an unanimous reply “everything.” That is because there is something for everyone at Lacock. There is the Abbey with its cool cloisters where you can sit and contemplate. Then you can wander through the house where the guides are only too willing to explain and expand on the house, its past owners, its contents and its quirky history with its link to our own area at Pennard and Margam.

Visiting the unique photographic exhibition is a must. It gives you the best description of the invention of photography but was it an invention by the French or the English? Visit Lacock to find out. The sepia photos from Peter Russell honour Henry Fox-Talbot, who developed the photographic process at Lacock Abbey.

And, of course, there is the wonderfully attractive village itself which has been so carefully preserved that it is widely used in television and films. The tithe barn is magnificent and there are local shops, galleries and a wide choice of eating places, all of which can be visited at a leisurely stroll. You do not feel hurried as you go around the village with its honesty boxes outside the houses should you decide to buy a magnet or a lavender satchet.

The church is well worth a visit with its carvings and gargoyles. It feels at the centre of the community. One of our group noted that a sign states that the toilet at the church is twinned with a toilet in the Democratic Republic of the Congo! Another said that visiting the church made her wanted to sing. Fortunately, we were spared that. Lacock is a place that you can keep on going back to and get enjoyment every time you visit.