Walsingham

Walsingham Abbey... ruins of the 12th century Priory of Our Lady, one of the Medieval world's most important places of pilgrimage.  Founded in 1061 by the Lady Richeldis who prayed she might undertake some special work in honour of Our Lady.  In answer to her prayer The Virgin Mary led her in spirit to Nazareth, showed her the house where the Annunciation occurred and asked her to build a replica in Walsingham to serve as a perpetual reminder of the Annunciation.  After The Reformation the shrine was destroyed and Walsingham ceased to be a place of pilgrimage.  In 1896 Charlotte Pearson Boyd purchased the Slipper Chapel, the last of the wayside chapels en route to Walsingham and restored it for Catholic use.

The 14th century east window of the priory church, the early 19th century landscape garden design by John Haverfield transformed the ruined window into an architectural garden folly...



And our girls enjoyed their day out too…

The entrance to the Well Garden and Monks' bath - 12th century Romanesque doorway relocated in the early 19th century.  The twin wells are mentioned from the beginning of the priory's history, first with healing powers, later, after the Dissolution, as wishing wells....

The packhorse bridge modelled on ancient bridges and incorporating stones from the priory ruins, it was built to terminate the 19th century lake.  It sits on the path of the old road to Norwich, the old river crossing near this spot was probably just a ford.

The river Stiffkey ….

Looking towards the Anglican Shrine of our Lady of Walsingham…

Beautifully scented...

The site of the Saxon chapel and holy house in the left corner of this photo....

I think somebody had taken the sign for a walk!

The ruins of the west tower, excavated in the 1850's this is a rough assembly of stones found near this spot and part of the footings of the west end of the priory church.  Massive stone pillar bases and remains of a buttress were uncovered, sturdy enough to support a western tower, together with remnants of paving, walls and doorways....

The ruins of the refectory, which date from around 1300....

The crypt....

Well that's me told then …..

Georgian Courtroom....

And men with guns should be bitten....

Walsingham before....

And after.....

The pump house …

The gatehouse built around 1440 .... (above and below)…

I know a few ….

Reconstruction of the priory in about 1400...

Inside the Anglican shrine of our Lady of Walsingham (created in 1931)...