THE state of the grave of Lacock’s famous Fox Talbot family has led to calls for the National Trust to maintain it properly as a tribute to the family that gave the village to the charity.

Peter Glen, who lives in Bowden Hill, is one of those frustrated that the grave in Lacock Cemetery has not been renovated.

Lacock village and Abbey was handed to the charity by Matilda Talbot, who was the last ever Fox Talbot, in 1944.

The grave is the burial place of the Victorian, William Henry Fox Talbot, who invented photographic paper and is regarded worldwide as the father of modern photography.

Mr Glen, 75, thinks it needs the inscription renewing, a thorough weeding and cleaning and a general tidy up to pay respect to the family.

He said: “The issue has been raised at parish council meetings multiple times in the last year.

“When Lacock Parish Council, who can’t afford the £1,000 repair, requested the National Trust should renovate the grave, they flatly refused.

“It’s outrageous that the National Trust, the benefactor of Lacock Village and Abbey, is so dismissive of taking on the responsibility for the upkeep of the family grave of the donor.”

Graham Heard, Lacock’s manager, explained no work has been carried out on the grave because it was a matter of respect.

He said: “We don’t think it’s respectful to renovate the grave of a family, that we don’t own.

“It is the responsibility of Fox Talbot descendants to maintain it as they see fit.”

Parish councillor, Chris Doel, explained he felt the National Trust should take on the job as a gesture of goodwill.

He said: “The distant relatives still alive don’t seem very interested, they haven’t responded to our letters.

“The National Trust has benefitted largely from Fox Talbot and I think they should repay that by tidying up the grave.”