A trip to the West of England gave an opportunity to visit perhaps the most significant location in the history of photography, Lacock Abbey, the family home of William Henry Fox Talbot. I grew up just down the road from Lacock but had never visited. Of course I had to take my plate camera and repeat some of the famous images. We had about three hours there and it was hot and very sunny so not ideal for photography. The village and house are fascinating outwith their link to the invention of photography. We also had a delicious pub lunch.
I made just five exposures across three scenes. It was hot work. The property and museum are definitely worth a visit but perhaps a little disappointing for the true enthusiast (nut) of historical techniques. I guess this is because they have to be suitable for a general audience.
Technically the challenge wasn’t just the high contrast provided by the bright sun but the fact that the gravel paths tended to glow brightly in the ultraviolet resulting in plates that are very difficult (if not impossible) to print well with simple alternative techniques and so I’ve resorted to scanning. If I had been doing this on modern film I could have given something like N-2 development to compensate.
Perhaps I’ll return in a few years when I’ve mastered calotypes. If I do I bet it will be raining!
My ancestors were stone masons in the village of Lacock.
We know for certain that they lived in the centre of the village and the outskirts.
They worked on numerous occasions for Fox Talbot working on the Abbey and the village properties.
George Bank’s is most noted for Building the village Workhouse around 1834 which is opposite St Cyriacs the village Church.
As the Banks family frequently worked at the Abbey I wondered if you knew who any of the faces in Talbot’s photos were ?
Thank you
Maggie Jenkins nee Banks
Hi Maggie, How fascinating. Why don’t you try writing to the National Trust at Lacock Abbey. (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wiltshire/lacock). If they can’t help you directly they may be able to put you in contact with a local historian.