Europe 2012 - England/Spain Part 5 - Two Wessex Towns

Today we have two goals in mind with a 3^rd if we feel we have time (but only get to the two).  These are the town of Bradford-on-Avon and the town of Lacock.  Both are towns with long histories.  Bradford-on-Avon is still a town very much in active life while Lacock is more of a preserved town though people still live there.  

 Wife with camera bag on B & B grounds this means...

Camera Sherpa time!

The B & B

Little sun room on B & B grounds

We get up at a pretty relaxed pace and get off to Bradford-on-Avon around 10 AM. 

 Part of the town

It's famous bridge with old jail to the left

 This is exactly the kind of small town in Europe that I particularly love because it represents the continuity of life activity going back thousands of years yet is still a living active community today.  So we started off by strolling through a street market and tasting various stuff. 

de-I wistfully looking at street market from car park

Bradford alive today - street market fantasy fulfilled

 Then we went down this one part of town where we encountered a Saxon period church (circa 800 AD),

 a Gothic church (circa 1300 AD), 

some Renaissance era buildings (circa 1500 AD), 

 

an middle Industrial age mill (circa 1850 AD) all in about a half a mile.

Not to mention this medieval cash machine

 We drove off to Lacock which is renown for its Abby and is a National Trust protected town.  The town is often used for period movie making and both town and Abby were featured in two of the Harry Potter movies.  Our plan was to get there in time for lunch.  Unfortunately it is very popular and there are only 3 restaurants.  Sunday lunch is a big thing and there were all packed.  We ended up getting some pastys again and eating them on a bench in town which was fine because we really didn’t need to eat too much for lunch after a big English breakfast at the B & B.

 Selection of (according to 3A) very 'British' soft drinks - ginger beer and brewed rose lemonade.

The former is quite punchy with ginger.  The latter is a subtle drink with a brewed floral flavoring.

de-I provides his endorsement to the rose lemonade

The big thing at Lacock is the abbey.  Built in the 13^th century it was continually in use through the 16^th century when Henry VIII closed all the monasteries and abbeys down.  It passed through numerous private hands until it came under the control of Fox Talbot a wealthy guy who is known for inventing the modern photographic technology (as well as being a mathematician, doing pioneering work in spectroscopy, and ancient languages.  Hence part of the abbey is also a big 18^th-19^th century restored manor house.

Wife and #3 in botanical garden

Abbey Scenes

We spent most of the afternoon on the grounds and in the buildings.  3.1 was a doll and after lunch fell asleep in her stroller for about a two hour nap.  Funny as hell listening to her snoring away.  Chip of the ole block.

We went back to the B & B, had some tea, relaxed, went to the pub again for dinner, and relaxed with some drinks and sweets we had bought after 3.1 was put down.