enjoy the view

NOTES

www.walkscene.co.uk

Lacock Abbey, Bowden Park & Bewley Common

Notes and points of interest

Lacock Abbey has been a country house since Tudor times, but was an active convent (founded in the 13th century) until the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII. Its first non-monastic owner, William Sharrington, seems to have been a local bully, but his actions preserved some fine ancient architecture. The well-preserved cloister and some of its surrounding rooms may look familiar to afficionadoes of Harry Potter films as they were used as sets on more than one of the series.

Bide Brook just a tiny stream on the edge of Lacock village, but a strikingly pretty start to the walk. The brook flows eastward into the River Avon.

Photographic Museum run by the National Trust and known as the Fox Talbot museum, this permanent exhibition celebrates the work of one of the pioneers of photography, who was also a fomrer resident of Lacock Abbey.

Lacock Village is managed by the Ntional Trust and remains a pretty village trapped in a past age. Apart from the Abbey, it boasts a fine example of a tithe barn and some attractive houses, shops and pubs.

Bowden Park which is worth a short diversion before continuing with the walk, is a fine 18th century mansion surrounded by parkland. It was designed by James Wyatt and is in private ownership.

Bewley Common a large village green kept as a traditional grazing area in the middle of Bewley village.