As it turned out he was an amazing polymath, who published books on archeology and botony (to name a couple) ... his life is certainly worth looking into ... Thanks Wikipedia
So i learnt, I saw ... and I took photos ....
The world’s earliest photographic negative showing the Lattice Window ....
And this is the window, from the inside and out!
His study
If I forget the rest, I hope I never forget this Great Hall -
Part of the old Abbey -
Part of the original building ... called The Warming House, and seen in Harry Potter (however the cauldron is 17th century, not a stage prop)
However, as well as looking at the hero of my hobby, I found out about the lady who founded the Abbey ... she was an amazing lady ...
Ela was born in Amesbury, Wiltshire in 1187, the only child and heiress of William FitzPatrick, 2nd Earl of Salisbury, Sheriff of Wiltshire and Eléonore de Vitré. In 1196, the same year she became countess and inherited her father's numerous estates, Ela married William Longespée, an illegitimate son of King Henry II, and had 8 or 9 children.
Ela held the post of Sheriff of Wiltshire for two years following her husband's death.
Three years later in 1229, Ela founded Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire as a nunnery of the Augustinian order. In 1238, she entered the abbey as a nun; she was made Abbess of Lacock in 1240, and held the post until 1257. The Book of Lacock recorded that Ela founded the monasteries at Lacock and Henton. During her tenure as abbess, Ela obtained many rights for the abbey and village of Lacock.
Ela, Countess of Salisbury died on 24 August 1261 and was buried in Lacock Abbey. We did see the stone, but it is so worn now.
