The history of Lacock Wharf (historically often spelled Laycock) is a record of the industrial transformation of the Wiltshire countryside. For over seventy years, this site served as a vital exchange for stone, coal, and construction materials, sustained by the meticulous management of local figures and the engineering vision of the Whitworth family.
The 1790s: Engineering and the Great Brick Production
The story began in the late 1790s as the Wilts & Berks Canal was cut through the parish of Lacock under the direction of the renowned engineer Robert Whitworth. Construction was a massive industrial undertaking, requiring a local supply of building materials. In 1797, the canal company established brick yards on the lands of Mr. Johnson and Mrs. Long.
During this year alone, records show that 159,750 bricks were manufactured at these Lacock yards at a rate of 26 shillings per thousand. These bricks were essential for the construction of the locks and bridges that would define the waterway. By 1799, the focus shifted to securing the canal’s boundaries, with laborers hired to build fences and weed the "quicks"—hawthorn hedges used to mark the company's property.
1803–1810: Infrastructure and the Tenure of Charles Pettifor
As the canal transitioned from a construction site to a working waterway, Lacock Wharf’s physical presence was formalized. In 1803, stone and lime were boated from Bradford to prepare the foundations. Between 1805 and 1806, the site’s infrastructure was completed with the building of a "speed wall" to reinforce the wharf’s edge, ensuring it could handle the weight of heavy cargo and the constant docking of narrowboats for loading and a Wharf House, which functioned as both a residence and the canal’s local administrative hub.
By 1810, Charles Pettifor emerged as the central operational figure. Serving as the lock-keeper at "Laycock-Lock" for many years, Pettifor was responsible for managing boat traffic and overseeing the maintenance of the canal section between Semington and Foxham. His work ensured the waterway remained navigable, involving frequent repairs to the towing paths and the wing walls of the nearby locks.
1817–1820: George Banks and Early Maintenance
By 1817, the aging masonry of the canal required expert attention. George Banks, a skilled mason and bricklayer, was employed by the company to perform vital repairs on the bridges and locks near Lacock. While Banks was initially a contractor for these structural works, his family name would eventually become synonymous with the management of the wharf for the next half-century.
The 1820s: Commercial Peak, Thomas Jefferies, and the Whitworth Legacy
The 1820s represented the commercial height of Lacock Wharf. During this decade, Thomas Jefferies served as the official Lacock Wharfinger. He managed the daily administration of the wharf, particularly the heavy trade in "Corn Grit" or ground stone used for major urban building projects.
This era also saw the continued involvement of the Whitworth family. William Whitworth (associated with the Stanley and Lacock areas) was a prominent figure who rented the Lacock Wharf House from the canal company. His presence underscored a long-standing family connection to the waterway's success.
Managing a busy warehouse required attention to detail, including pest control. Between 1825 and 1829, the company regularly paid J. Johnson specifically for rat catching within the Lacock Wharf Warehouse to ensure that stored goods remained undamaged.
1830s–1850s: The Railway Transition and the Banks Dynasty
As the 1830s began, the wharf adapted to the arrival of the railway age, landing materials for the new iron roads that would eventually supersede the canal. Maintenance remained a constant challenge, particularly stabilizing the "slips"—landslides in the steep ground near Lacock.
By the mid-19th century, the management of the site had officially transitioned to the Banks family. George Banks was recorded as the salaried Wharfinger during the 1840s and 1850s. Under his leadership, the wharf remained a hub for local trade, including a steady flow of coal for local smiths and household use.
1860s–1870s: Elizabeth Banks and the Final Years
In the canal's final active decades, the Banks family legacy was maintained by Elizabeth Banks. Appearing in the records through the late 1860s and early 1870s, she managed administrative matters such as water rights and site compensation. Her tenure marked the final chapter of a family dynasty that had stewarded Lacock Wharf from its industrial peak into its twilight years.