Regency tales: Wiltshire Wanderings continued

Part 2 Devizes, Lacock and Corsham

From Salisbury to Devizes the road leads through a green and gold patchwork of cultivated fields, punctuated with copses of trees, all this stretching to the horizon with its gentle hills. This is the landscape of the rural England of yesteryear. At intervals there are quaint little villages with open commons and ancient timber framed pubs leaning every which way under their decorative thatched roofs... all that is lacking is a shepherd with a crook or a goosegirl.

In Devizes, the market is in full swing in the main square. On the edge of town, Wadworth Brewery has revived the tradition of delivering the beer by horse-drawn drays. At certain times, it's possible to visit the horses at the brewery - and in the Visitors' Suite you can sample the various beers produced.
http://www.wadworth.co.uk/shire_horses.html
Shires Out on Delivery

Until the coming of the railways, canals were the preferred method of transporting goods. The canal network still exists, although it is more for leisure now. Between Devizes and Rowde are the famous Caen Hill Locks, twenty-seven of them in total!
A series of approximately 20 black lock gates with white ends to the paddle arms and wooden railings, each slightly higher than the one below. On the right is a path and on both sides grass and vegetation.

A series of approximately 20 black lock gates with white ends to the paddle arms and wooden railings, each slightly higher than the one below. On the right is a path and on both sides grass and vegetation.

For more photos try this link - http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/kacanal/html/kac0043.htm

Lacock.

Lacock is mentioned in The Domesday Book. It had a population of 160 -190, two mills and a vineyard. the Church of St Cyriac was established in the 11th Century.

Lacock Abbey

Lacock Abbey was founded in 1232. It still stands but since the Dissolution, it has been in private hands. Recently, both the village and the Abbey have featured in films, such as Harry Potter and Pride and Prejudice.

The oldest house in the village is King John's Hunting Lodge, situated opposite the church. It is a guest house and tearoom, with a delightful, flower-filled garden. Visitors can select from the tempting array of cakes set out on the dresser.

Corsham

The local limestone - the same as in Bath, gives a golden harmony to all the buildings in Corsham's main street. It is a charming place to visit, with many historic buildings and interesting shops. The eerie cry of peacocks sounds from time to time and occasionally they appear in the streets.

Corsham Court

A Saxon Manor house stood here, reputedly the hunting lodge of King Ethelred the Unready. It has been rebuilt many times, and part is still Elizabethan, with 18th century additions skilfully joined on. The Methuen Collection of paintings is housed here, together with many splendid period items, especially inlaid cabinets.