Lacock by Martin Parr
- Published:
- 23 April 2026
Magnum photographer Martin Parr first photographed Lacock in the 1980s, further developing the distinctive documentary style that brought him international acclaim. Four decades on, his final major commission brings that story full circle. Opening 27 June 2026 until 27 June 2027.
A very British snapshot
From VE Day events to the annual flower show and scarecrow trail, visitors will encounter moments of local celebration, community gatherings and the quieter details of everyday life that Martin keenly captured with affection. A vivid portrait of contemporary Britain as experienced through a single Wiltshire village.
Building on Lacock's photographic past
Lacock is the Home of Photography, where Henry Fox Talbot first invented the negative-positive process in 1835 and where his wife, Constance, was also experimenting with the medium by 1839. 'Martin knew that modern photography began at Lacock, and it was important to him that this remarkable place should feature in his archive', says Dr Andy Cochrane, Property Curator for Lacock.
"Often used as a filming location, perhaps most famously for the Harry Potter franchise, Lacock is a place where history and photography meet pop culture - which made it the perfect subject for Martin Parr"
The exhibition book
Photobooks were of great significance to Martin , who built a library of over 5,000 at the Martin Parr Foundation. Alongside the exhibition, the National Trust will publish an accompanying book of the exhibition images with a foreword by Susie Parr, Martin's widow, reflecting on the significance of Lacock in her husband's life and creative journey.
About Martin Parr
The Bristol based photographer served as the president of international photographic agency Magnum Photos from 2013 to 2017. He published over 150 books of his own and edited another 30 in his lifetime and his work has been collected by many of the world's leading museums, from Tate in the UK to the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He established the Martin Parr Foundation in 2017 to support emerging, established and under-recognised photographers whose work focuses on Great Britain and Ireland.
The exhibition has been developed in collaboration with Magnum Photos and the Martin Parr Foundation, supported by the National Trust’s photo printing partner CEWE.
