After a leisurely morning with a talk from Nicola Tallis about Tudor jewels we headed off to Lacock. A lovely village that time seemed to pass by. It has been used for scenes in several movies including Harry Potter and Sense and Sensibility.

Nicola’s talk on Tudor jewels made me realize how paltry my own jewel collection is. Henry’s wives both inherited and commissioned more jewels than are imaginable in our more frugal times. I have to say I was quite surprised to learn that the Queens wore their predecessors jewels or had them remade into something in their own tastes. There were good inventories for the last 3 and there were a lot of repeat items. You would think a women would hesitate just a bit to wear a necklace whose last owner lost her head but I guess not. A fascinating talk and I am looking forward to the book.

After the talk we headed out to Lacock. A small village that seems to be stuck in the medieval time period. Because the train didn’t come through it, they said that it was not modernized in the Victorian times and then to stop modern development the National Trust bought it. The village is postcard perfect and perfect for a lazy stroll.

We all met up to go through the Lacock Abbey together. It once housed a order of nuns before Henry VIII got his hands in it and gave it to a noble family. The new owner quickly updated the top floor into useable space for his “modern family”. The Abby has been used for a house ever since. Because he built his house on the upper levels the cloisters were never remodeled so still remain in their full medieval glory. It is the Abby cloisters that are used for Hogwarts hallways and classrooms in the original two movies.

After a nice day in Lacock we returned to the hotel to get ready for dinner. Tonight’s dinner was at Barkley Castle.

Barkley Castle has been the home for the Barkley family home for 800 years. The only family that can trace father to son since Saxon time. Archives date back to 1154 and are still housed in the castle. In 1215 the castle was the final meeting spot where the barons rallied before taking on King John. It was this confrontation that resulted in the signing of the Magna Carta.

Barkley’s claim to fame is as the final prison of a Edward II. Deposed in 1387 by his wife and her lover and forced to abdicate the thrown to his 14 yoa son. Isabella and Mortimer ruled as regents. After two escape attempts (one that succeeded for a few weeks) Edward was murdered. They are not sure how he died either a hot poker up his bowels, smothered by cushions or possibly the noxious air of rotting animal carcasses in the adjoining pit. Regardless of how he died or by whose orders it makes a good story for the castle tour (especially at night).

The castle still has the look of a castle outside but inside it is more early 1900 home. Most rooms have been turned into some type of parlor however the Great Hall was returned to all its Tudor splendor.

We had dinner in the Great Hall as did Henry and Ann on their 1535 procession. Queen Elizabeth I also dined in this Great Hall. So basically I had dinner with the power people of the Tudor Dynasty.

Dinner was amazing. First course was Welsh Rarebit, which is toast with cheese (or so I thought but really more like cheesey potatoes on toast) very delicious. For the main course I had Welsh rabbit. Not something I have often in the states or pretty much never but also delicious. Finished with crème brûlée. All accompanied with several (I lost count) glasses of wine. I blame all my over indulgence on the tour director who continued to pour me glass after glass.