Historic Links Between St Cyriac’s Church And Lacock Primary School

Lacock School was built by William Henry Fox Talbot in 1824, he built the school to ensure the poor children could have an education. Below is an extract from the foundation deed for the school showing that the school is technically still owned by the church under the guidance of the incumbent and churchwardens. The church has very close links with the church and often supports activities and events both practically an in prayer. We consider the school to be a vital link in our community and one we activily encourage and seek to develop further.

“Dated 3 August 1865

W H F Talbot Esquire

to The Vicar and Churchwardens of the Parish of Lacock in the County of Wilts

Conveyance of premises for a School for the Parishes of Lacock and Saint Anne Bowden Hill

Enrolled in Her Majesty’s High Court of Chancery the twenty first day of November in the year of our Lord 1865 (being first duly stamped) according to the tenor of the Statutes made for that purpose.

E. Grubb

I William Henry Fox Talbot of Lacock Abbey in the County of Wilts Esquire under the authority of the Acts of the Fifth and Eighth years if the Reign of Her Majesty for affording facilities for the Conveyance and Endowment of sites for Schools do hereby freely and voluntarily and without valuable consideration to me paid grant and convey unto The Vicar and Churchwardens of the Parish of Lacock aforesaid and to their successors. All that Building situate in the High Street of Lacock aforesaid with the court yards outlets and premises thereunto adjoining and belonging now and for many years past used as the National School of and for the said parish………..

……. In witness whereof I the said William Henry Fox Talbot and the said other parties have hereunto set our hands and seals this third day of August One thousand eight hundred and sixty five

W. H. F. Talbot                                                            H. G. Awdry   Churchwarden

Edward P. Nicholl   Vicar                                           Joseph Fry   Churchwarden

Taken and acknowledged by William Henry Fox Talbot one of the parties to this Deed this Eleventh day of November 1865 at Lacock – in the County of Wilts before me

W. M. Awdry

A Commissioner to administer Oaths in Chancery in England”

Signed sealed and delivered by the within named William Henry Fox Talbot, Edward Powell Nicholl the Vicar, and Henry Goddard Awdry and Joseph Fry the Churchwardens of the Parish of Lacock in the presence of

W. M. Awdry

Gov Chippenham