Accommodations in Walsingham near The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham (Walsingham, United Kingdom)
The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham (Walsingham, United Kingdom)
The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham has been a pilgrimage site since the 12th century. Richeldis de Faverches, a local noblewoman, saw visions of Mary instructing her to build a copy of the house of the annunciation in Nazareth. A priory was established around the structure which was a pilgrimage centre until its destruction by Henry VIII in 1538. The site was revived in the 20th century when a statue of Mary was created by copying an image from the priory’s seal, and placed in the parish church. It became a focus for a new generation of pilgrims. In 1931 a new church containing a Holy House was built and the statue placed inside. It was extended in 1938 to become the Anglican Shrine. The story of the visions also included references to a spring. Work on the new church in 1931 uncovered an old well which today produces pure water used in purification services. 10,000 resident pilgrims and 300,000 visitors come annually. To cope with the numbers support services such as a visitor centre, accommodation, catering, shops, education and conference facilities are available. The National Pilgrimage takes place on the Spring Bank Holiday when the statue is paraded through the village.
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