The National Trust has joined the British Library in announcing the exceptionally generous gift to the nation of the Talbot Collection by Talbot’s descendants.

The collection contains over 4,000 photographs by Talbot and his circle and more than 10,000 letters and other correspondence between Talbot and his family and friends.

The Fox Talbot Museum in Lacock housed and cared for the Collection for nearly 30 years on behalf of Talbot’s descendants, cataloguing the Collection, providing access for researchers and loans to other institutions from the Collection.

The Collection's new home, the British Library, offers increased researcher access to this marvellous collection.

In partnership with the British Library, the link between the Talbot Collection and Lacock will continue. The Fox Talbot Museum, as it has for many years, will continue to tell the story of William Henry Fox Talbot and his pioneering work at Lacock, through displays from the Collection of Talbot's equipment, objects he photographed and his publications and personal items on loan from the Collection.

For research and access information regarding the William Henry Fox Talbot Collection please email John Falconer, Jerwood Curator of Photography at the British Library.

The museum is housed in a medieval barn located at the gates to Lacock Abbey. The upper gallery at the Museum houses two / three temporary exhibitions per year showing a broad range of work by some of the most lively and interesting contemporary and historic photographers reflecting the development of Talbot’s discoveries.