The National Trust will open a new exhibition at Lacock Abbey on 27 June 2026 presenting the last major commission created by the late British photographer Martin Parr (1952–2025).
Image: 'Scarecrow Festival' by Martin Parr in Lacock, 2025
Known worldwide for his wry and often humorous observations of ordinary Britons and British life, Parr returns to a place that shaped him early in his career. In the 1980s, he photographed the village of Lacock, further developing the distinctive documentary style that brought him international acclaim.
Four decades on, his final major commission project brings that story full circle: in 2025 Parr once again turned his lens on Lacock, creating a deeply human portrait of the village, its people and its rhythms of daily life.
Presented at Lacock Abbey – globally recognised as the home of photography through the pioneering work of Henry Fox Talbot – the exhibition offers a rare, intimate insight into Parr’s concluding year of work. 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 Parr captured with both affection and acuity. Seen together, they form a vivid portrait of contemporary Britain as experienced through a single Wiltshire village.
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. A short film made during the project will also be shown, offering further context on Parr’s final months of work and his longstanding connection to the village.
Dr Andy Cochrane, Curator at Lacock said: “Martin knew that modern photography began at Lacock, and it was important to him that this remarkable place should feature in his archive. What we did not foresee is that this project would end up being his last major commission. That it was focused on the place where photography began, poetically closes the circle. Martin was smart, serious, witty and hardworking. Collaborating with him was a joy, and his focus on Lacock last year was his gift to us all.”
Susie Parr added: “It is such a bittersweet experience for me to look through these photos of Lacock taken by Martin over the past year. There are so many echoes from his work throughout his long career. It’s a credit to Martin that he made this work, so full of the life he loved, when his health was failing so dramatically. What a great way to end such a distinguished career, back in the home of photography.”
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.
Lacock by Martin Parr opens at the Fox Talbot Museum at Lacock Abbey on 27 June 2026 and runs until 27 June 2027.
For further information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock.
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