WALSINGHAM (LITTLE), a parish (formerly a
market-town) in the northern division of the hundred
of GREENHOE, county of NORFOLK, 28 miles (N.W.)
from Norwich, and 114 (N.N.E.) from London, containing
1067 inhabitants. This place, also denominated New
Walsingham, was of great celebrity, for many centuries,
as the site of a shrine of the Virgin, or our Lady of
Walsingham, constructed of wood, after the plan of the
Sancta Casa at Nazareth, and founded, in 1061, by the
widow of Ricoldie Faverches, whose son confirmed her
endowment, and added a monastery for Augustine canons,
with a conventual church: this institution became
"immensely rich, and at the dissolution its revenue
was valued at £446. 14. 4., exclusively of the valuable
Offerings of the numerous devotees of all nations who
had visited the shrine, which are said to have equalled
those presented at the shrine of our Lady of Loretto,
and that of St. Thomas kBecket at Canterbury. Among
the illustrious visitants were several of the kings and
queens of England, especially Henry VIII., who, in the
second-year of-his reign, walked hither barefoot from
Barsham, to present a, valuable necklace- to the image
of the Virgin. During the prevalence of superstition
the credulous were taught to believe that the galaxy
or milky way, in the heavens was the peculiar residence
of the Virgin, whence it obtained the name of
"Walsingham way." The venerable remains of this
once noble and stupendous pile are situated, in the
midst of a grove of stately trees, in the pleasure
grounds of H. L. Warner, Esq., and contiguous to a
fine stream of water, over which that gentleman has
built a handsome bridge: they chiefly consist of the
great western portal, a lofty and magnificent arch, sixty
feet high, which formed the east end of the conventual
church; the spacious refectory, seventy-eight feet by
twenty-seven, with walls twenty-six feet and a half in
height; a portion of the cloisters, and a stone bath with
two wells, called St. Mary's, or the" Wishing Wells;" near
which is a Saxon arch with zigzag mouldings, removed
hither from the mansion as an ornamental object. The
devotees who had permission to drink of these wells
were taught to believe that, under certain restrictions,
they should obtain whatever they might desire. The
cross, resting upon a platform on which the pilgrims
knelt to receive the water, is still visible. The other
relics are, the abbey, a stone pulpit belonging to the re--
fectory, and the ruins of a fine window. Here was also
a house of Grey friars, founded, in 1346, by Elizabeth
de Burgo, Countess of Clare. The town is situated in
a vale, surrounded by bold heights presenting diversified
scenery, near a small stream which, within a few
miles, falls into the sea: the inhabitants are supplied
with water from wells. A fair is held annually a fortnight
after Whit-Monday. Quarter sessions are held
here by adjournment from Norwich. The bridewell,
or house of correction, formerly an hospital for lepers,
founded in 1486, has been considerably enlarged. This
place was formerly noted for the growth of saffron,
which has been discontinued for some years.
The living is a donative, in the patronage of H.
Lee Warner, Esq. The church, which is dedicated to
St. Mary, is a spacious structure, and contains a very
ancient and beautiful font, of octagonal form, resting
on a plinth of four ornamented steps, and representing,
in compartments, the seven Sacraments of the
church of Rome and the Crucifixion: there is also an
ancient monument, erected to the memory of a Roman
Catholic bishop; and a very fine one to that of Sir
Henry Sidney. There is a place of worship for Wesleyan
Methodists. A free grammar school was founded
by Richard Bond, Esq., in 1639, and endowed with an
estate in Great Snoring, in this county, producing £110-
per annum, vested in feoffees, for the maintenance of
a- master and an usher, to teach thirty boys. There
are eight almshouses, occupied by paupers having large
families. The remains of a Danish encampment are
visible towards the sea. This place confers the title
of baron on the family of De Grey.