- Time of past OR future Camino
- CFx5
Norte
Primitivo
CP
Le Puy-SJPP
Via F
Earlier this week,Antomuchacho started a very interesting thread called Confused.
Further down, Stroller mentioned that Walsingham was a popular pilgrim site in the UK
As it happens, we had visited Walsingham the previous week
Although I had heard that that there was a shrine/Basilica to Our Lady of Walsingham.......imagine my surprise when we arrived in the village that it was....and is a major pilgrimage site for the many thousands of pilgrims that visit eash year.... With many coming from long distances.
There are plenty of Hostals and rooms in the village ....as in the Middle Ages...provide food and lodging for pilgrims.
The shrine was founded in 1061
Destroyed by HenryV111 in 1538 and rebuilt in 1931
It is said that Henry had himself made many pilgrimages to the shrine....walking barefoot along the Pilgrim Way to reach the shrine.
Although most pilgrims now arrive by car or public transport ....in medieval times before 1538 they travelled to Walsingham along particular routes, including London, passing by many local towns such as Thetford ....this route was known as the Walsingham Way.
The first stop for those arriving from the North was the RC shrine to Our Lady known as the Slipper Chapel. Here, they would remove their shoes before walking the last mile known as The Pilgrim Way as a mark of respect.
Some pilgrims still do today.
We arrived by by car and parked at the Anglican Parish church...a huge and impressive building
Walking into the village was like going back in time with many timber framed buildings and Georgian facades.
The grounds of the shrine are so beautiful and the atmosphere tranquil
There is a Hostals attached to the shrine for those wishing to avail themselves of the many retreats held there throughout the year
We attended the service at the shrine which was really beautiful
Then we walked across the square and into the old Abbey which containes remains of the old abbey walls,refectory,the East window arch....a beautiful architectural folly..a crypt, a holy well and many acres of beautiful gardens (£5) entry
Thousands visit in early spring to see the carpets of snowdrops beside the river.
Next came The Pilgrim Way path to the slipper Chapel ( we did keep our shoes on though!) ...a path of over a mile and through open fields.
First we passed a Russian Orthodox Church.....a bit of a surprise in rural Norfolk!
The chapel and grounds of the slipper chapel were also impressive and tranquil
We returned to the village by the road, passing by another church and cemetery.
Arriving again in the village we passed the Methodist church, and the Catholic parish church.
So many churches...7 in all within such a small area!
Later informed that Norfolk was once a very wealthy county..."when cotton was King" and they just kept building churches!
Apparently Norwich, the county capital has a church for every week of the year!! ...our next visit perhaps
Al in all it was a surprise for us to find such a wonderful pilgrim place in a little corner of England .
Further down, Stroller mentioned that Walsingham was a popular pilgrim site in the UK
As it happens, we had visited Walsingham the previous week
Although I had heard that that there was a shrine/Basilica to Our Lady of Walsingham.......imagine my surprise when we arrived in the village that it was....and is a major pilgrimage site for the many thousands of pilgrims that visit eash year.... With many coming from long distances.
There are plenty of Hostals and rooms in the village ....as in the Middle Ages...provide food and lodging for pilgrims.
The shrine was founded in 1061
Destroyed by HenryV111 in 1538 and rebuilt in 1931
It is said that Henry had himself made many pilgrimages to the shrine....walking barefoot along the Pilgrim Way to reach the shrine.
Although most pilgrims now arrive by car or public transport ....in medieval times before 1538 they travelled to Walsingham along particular routes, including London, passing by many local towns such as Thetford ....this route was known as the Walsingham Way.
The first stop for those arriving from the North was the RC shrine to Our Lady known as the Slipper Chapel. Here, they would remove their shoes before walking the last mile known as The Pilgrim Way as a mark of respect.
Some pilgrims still do today.
We arrived by by car and parked at the Anglican Parish church...a huge and impressive building
Walking into the village was like going back in time with many timber framed buildings and Georgian facades.
The grounds of the shrine are so beautiful and the atmosphere tranquil
There is a Hostals attached to the shrine for those wishing to avail themselves of the many retreats held there throughout the year
We attended the service at the shrine which was really beautiful
Then we walked across the square and into the old Abbey which containes remains of the old abbey walls,refectory,the East window arch....a beautiful architectural folly..a crypt, a holy well and many acres of beautiful gardens (£5) entry
Thousands visit in early spring to see the carpets of snowdrops beside the river.
Next came The Pilgrim Way path to the slipper Chapel ( we did keep our shoes on though!) ...a path of over a mile and through open fields.
First we passed a Russian Orthodox Church.....a bit of a surprise in rural Norfolk!
The chapel and grounds of the slipper chapel were also impressive and tranquil
We returned to the village by the road, passing by another church and cemetery.
Arriving again in the village we passed the Methodist church, and the Catholic parish church.
So many churches...7 in all within such a small area!
Later informed that Norfolk was once a very wealthy county..."when cotton was King" and they just kept building churches!
Apparently Norwich, the county capital has a church for every week of the year!! ...our next visit perhaps
Al in all it was a surprise for us to find such a wonderful pilgrim place in a little corner of England .