Legend has it that the Virgin Mary 'miraculously' appeared in Walsingham in 1051 and from that day it became one of the most celebrated places of pilgrimage in medieval England. A shrine was soon built to commemorate the coming of 'Our Lady', and eventually a group of canons were charged with looking after it. During the latter part of the 12th century, the Augustinian priory was founded, and this became one of the wealthiest and most important religious houses in East Anglia.

Nothing remains of the original shrine, and very little has survived of the medieval monastery. However, dominating the site, is the impressive, twin turreted 13th century arch, that would have housed the great East Window of Walsingham Priory church. Apart from its towering height, this structure has a very striking appearance due to the wonderful knapped flintwork panels on the turrets.

As far as the claustral buildings are concerned, there is a section of vaulted undercroft to the monks dormitory in tact, the south wall of the dining room has survived to full height, even retaining some of the tracery in the elegant windows, and a couple of corner shafts to the Chapter House are still visible.

Walsingham Priory grounds are beautifully maintained, and when we visited in the early Spring we were treated to a riotous display of colour and fragrances. The woodland setting was bursting with wild flowers, including bluebells, daffodils and delicate narcissi and, along the banks of the river, large clumps of brilliant white snowdrops were in full bloom.

Walking long the footpath beside the River Stiffkey, a narrow stone bridge can be seen. This was built during monastic times as an access road for the 'pack horses' - hence it is known as 'Pack Horse Bridge'. Another unusual feature of Walsingham Priory is the site of the wells. Passing through a re-erected Norman doorway into a garden area, there are two 'healing wells' where the sick were brought in medieval times.

After the Dissolution of Walsingham Priory in 1538, although still regarded as a most holy place - in fact, often referred to as England's Holy Land - Walsingham's popularity as a place of pilgrimage declined until quite recently. In the 1930s a new Anglican shrine surrounding a replica of the Holy House was erected, and this now attracts thousands of visitors each year. The town caters for every religious denomination, with its diversity of churches and ecclesiastical gift shops, and has a strange air of holiness and serenity surrounding it.