The last such pilgrimage was in 1998 and it marked the centenary of the restoration of the shrine when the event was staged in conjunction with the Walsingham Pilgrim Bureau.  This year’s pilgrimage was organised by the Guild vice-president, Michael Chute.

As a holy shrine, Walsingham is the national shrine of Our Lady and is known as England’s Nazareth. It is one of the world’s most ancient shrines having been established in 1061 and throughout the Middle Ages, pilgrims from all over Europe came to visit this holy place. 

Until the Reformation, Walsingham ranked second only to Canterbury as a place of pilgrimage in England and over many years Kings, Queens and royal personages  and notables as well as thousands of more humble, pious folk visited the site.  Indeed, King Henry VIII once made a pilgrimage to Walsingham in his bare feet!.  Sadly, later in his reign, he gave permission for the destruction and dissolution of churches, religious houses, monasteries and priories and Walsingham Priory was unable to escape this persecution.  It was destroyed in 1538. 

Sometime later the priory site was sold and a private residence, Walsingham Abbey, was built on it.  It incorporates part of the Prior’s lodgings.  Apart from this, the only visible remains of the priory today is the perpendicular gateway;  part of the east end of the church;  part of the refectory and several fragments of ruins.