What with traveling during winter break and then final exams, I have a lot of catching up to do in this blog. So let's start where I left off: Lacock.
Lacock is this teensy-tiny little village that we visited on our Stonehenge tour. It's known for being one of the most historically preserved towns in England (13th to 18th century), and as such, a lot of movies get made there. In fact, two of the most important requirements of living in Lacock (as a National Heritage site, all homes are leased by the government), you must first have proof that your ancestors lived in Lacock, and secondly be willing to deal with film production companies. When a film is being made, the production company pays all of the residents of Lacock to move out for the weekend, and then brings in dump trucks full of dirt to cover over the paved streets. At the end of filming, the filmmakers pay to sweep up the streets, and everyone moves back in to their homes.
Perhaps the most widely-recognized film involving Lacock is the Harry Potter series. Lacock is used to create the scene of Godric's Hollow, where Harry was born. The nearby abbey was used for shots inside Hogwarts, such as Quirrel's classroom and the Potions room. This is a shot of the house used as Lily and James Potter's house in The Half-Blood Prince.
And this is a pretty building nearby.
This wheel is in the the George Inn in Lacock. It's actually in the wall next to the fireplace. A small dog would be placed in the wheel and made to run round and round like a gerbil (poor dogs!). The turning motion would rotate the spit in the fire, ensuring your meat was cooked well on all sides. They actually bred a species of terrier to specialize in turning these wheels, called a "Turnspit Dog." The species is now extinct; as the saying goes, "Use it or lose it."
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