Show Notes
In 1196, 9-year-old Ela was hidden away in France after becoming the third Countess of Salisbury.
After being discovered and brought back to England by a knight who supposedly sang underneath windows to find her, Ela went on to become one of the thirteenth century's most influential women.
As well as being a peeress, Ela is also known for being the Sheriff of Wiltshire, breaking social norms and defying the intensely patriarchal society she was in. As the King's representative in the county, she would’ve been responsible for upholding the Crown's law and bringing its enemies to justice, supervising the royal lands in the area, and much more.
Ela was incredibly powerful, assertive, resolute and devout – she lay the foundation stones for two religious houses, more than 16 miles apart, in a single day. The first was Hinton Priory in Bath, and the second was Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire, where less than ten years later, Ela was elected its first abbess.
National Trust Historian Helen Antrobus heads to Lacock to discover the story behind this medieval marvel.
[Ad] This podcast is sponsored by CEWE, Europe’s leading photo printing company. Every image you capture tells a story. Discover ideas for curating your special memories and creating gifts for loved ones. From the award-winning CEWE PHOTOBOOK to wall art made from your favourite photos. Start creating your story at www.cewe.co.uk
Production Presenter: Helen Antrobus Producer: Jack Glover and Lily Long Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Emma Zadeh
Discover More
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wiltshire/lacock
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/history/people/remarkable-women-in-history
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/history/what-happened-in-a-medieval-abbey-church
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