48 Notes on Lacock Abbey. 
and also a fine fireplace in the Stone Gallery. The buildings of the 
court, to the north, comprising stables, brew-house, bake-house, &c., 
were not part of the monastery, but were built by Sir William 
Sharington. They are of very fine workmanship, and the roofs are 
remarkable for being constructed on the modern scientific principle 
of a truss, being the earliest example of the kind known tome. I 
think it likely that an Italian may have been concerned, directly or 
indirectly, in these works. 
About 1756,! the present hall was built, by John Ivory Talbot, 
who also made the present dining-room. Unfortunately, we know 
that he destroyed very picturesque * old work, to make these 
alterations. He appears to have known that the Renaissance work 
was not Gothic, and to have deliberately removed a good deal of it, 
and, in one case, to have attempted to Gothicise it. He also removed 
the windows from the sacristy, chapter-house, and day-room, 
throwing those buildings open to the terrace. Altogether, with, 
I believe, very good intentions, he did a great deal of mischief. 
Further alterations were made, in 1628 and succeeding years, the 
most noticeable being the doorway and oriel windows of the south 
front. These have improved the general effect, but, to a certain 
extent, have diminished the archeological interest. 
1This rests on the authority of Edward Popham, D.D., Vicar of Lacock from 
1765 to 1814, and also Rector of Chilton Foliot. Amongst the Britton MSS., in 
the possession of the Wiltshire Archeological Society, at Devizes, are “ Notes 
from Dr. Popham’s Letter, Nov. 12th, 1802” (to John Britton). He says:— 
*‘ The Hall was enlarged, from its original size, and brought forward about 6 feet, 
in front, and fitted up as it now is, by John Talbot, Esq., about 1756.” Dr. 
Popham makes one most mistaken statement, which it may be well to take this 
opportunity of correcting. He says :—“ The large stone Barn, close to the gate 
leading to the Abbey, has been erroneously supposed to have been part of a chapel 
belonging to it, as the form of chapel windows appears in it; but it was built by 
Sir John Talbot, on purpose to receive his own troop of Horse, when he attended 
Charles 2nd to Bath. Sir John built it, in the form it now remains in, that it 
might correspond with the Abbey.” An examination of the building shows, 
however, that it was originally a stable, built by Sir William Sharington, and it 
must have been converted into a barn and Gothicised by Ivory Talbot. By this 
alteration the building was so weakened that I have been obliged to re-build part 
of the walls and remove some of the sham Gothic features. 
2 This is known from Dingley’s view, 1684, 
ea ee a 
