Lacock Ford

Lacock is a 13th century rural village which has remained untouched by modern development. It is probably best known for it's use as a film and TV drama location, with its ultra wide High Street and medieval limewashed, half-timbered and stone houses.

During the middle ages it became a prosperous and thriving town with it's own wool industry. However for photographers it's attraction is both it's beautiful location and the home of the Fox Talbot Photographic Museum. William Henry Fox Talbot (1800-1877) being the pioneer of the negative/positive photographic process. It is believed that the idea of photography came to him whilst on holiday in Italy, using a camera obscura as an aid for drawing. There is a museum dedicated to his life and work at the nearby Lacock Abbey which he owned and was resident at for a time.

It's Ford is located in a small road, Nethercote Hill, off Church Street, which leads to some houses, it is not a through road for traffic. In fact it is really a Wet Lane than a Ford, as it is a long stretch of the road in the river and not just a trickle of water. It is part of a tributary off the River Avon and at the point the river joins there is a weir which keeps the water level at a fairly constant height.

Cars, like 4x4's can go through it and one did whilst we were there photographing it. However it is better approached on foot. From the church you turn into the lane on the left by a pretty little thatched cottage and walk slightly downhill, at the wet lane there is a bridge and raised footpath which allows cyclists and walkers to get through that part of the lane. As vehicles leave the Ford the road continues upwards. There are plenty of photo opportunities from different angles and with overhanging trees, bushes, old cottages etc.

The whole of Lacock is photo opportunity and definitely worth a visit, although try out of season when there are a few less people around.

Location: Lacock Ford, Nethercote Hill, Lacock, Wiltshire Grid Reference: ST916686 Ceremonial County: Wiltshire Map Link: MultiMap     StreetMap Aerial photo: Multimap Aerial Getting there: From the A350 take one of the roads into the centre of the village. Access: Park up either in the village or in the main tourist season when the village centre is busy there is a small car park around by the Abbey. Head for the church as you approach it, take the road on the left and follow this down and at the corner you have the start of the Ford. Website: Other Useful Websites: Email: Address: Postcode: Telephone: Opening Times: Charges: Nearby Locations: Lacock Abbey and the Fox Talbot Museum Other Location Pages: Other Relevant Pages: Notes:

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By: Tracey Park	Section: Nature/Flora/Countryside	Key:
Page Ref: lacock_ford	Topic: Fords	Last Updated: 09/2009

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