Thursday 14 Sept
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Saturday 16 Sept
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Sunday 17 Sept
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3. Walsingham
 Roger drove the Coach into a very large Coach
park, surprisingly empty for the time of day
(possibly because it was too early for the majority
of Coach Tours etc).
There to meet and greet us, was Scilla Landale
who was to be our Tour Guide around the town,
etc.
Although Roger was apparently just going to park
the Coach and wait in the Coach park for us, we
thought that he'd far prefer to be with us, and our invitation was really welcomed.
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Scilla spoke first about where the pre-Beeching (i.e. pre-1960s)
Railway had run, and about the ticket office, and soon we were
all led into what must be the most ornate interior of a ticket office
anywhere, as the building now hosts a Russian Orthodox shrine.
Here we all sat and listened to Scilla explaining to us the history
and reasons for the shrine, before we strolled outside and down
a steepish slope, before walking down into the town and its main
street.
Here we passed by a couple of pubs, and Scilla pointed out a
new building being constructed whose tower is following the
traditional round tower of many ancient Norfolk Churches.
Afterwards, we walked along the main street to opposite the
main entrance to Walsingham Abbey, where Scilla invited us to
look at roof levels, and other interesting items, including various
parts of the building above the Gate.
Walking on, we stopped opposite what many believe to be the
old lock-up (a round brick building with a wooden door on one
side). Explaining that in fact the building houses the old well,
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Inside, we all noticed that the area was surrounded on three sides by buildings, and that on the other
side there was a modern 'sculpture (or something like it) , whilst all around the grounds, besides
several paths, there were also 'stations of the cross'.
Scilla led us down to the Refectory of the Anglican shrine, where we were going to stop for a short
break for coffee/tea and a cake - all of which were very much welcomed and appreciated (most
family members had forgotten that they'd already paid for the refreshments, so that was an extra
bonus for them!)
After our break, we walked through the grounds, and over to the Anglican Shrine Church where we
entered and walked along its corridors etc.
A service was just about to start in one of its side chapels, so we quietly passed by the door, and
walked on to see more of the Church further on.
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 Image title: 703.—Walsingham Abbey, Norfolk.
Source: Knight, Charles: “Old England: A Pictorial Museum” (1845)
Place shown: Walsingam Abbey, Norfolk, England
Notes: The village of Walsingham is alive and well;
the Abbey itself was destroyed in 1538 during the English Reformation.
Original Dimensions: 95 x 120mm (3.7 x 4.7 inches)
(The above Image, together with others, can be viewed
by clicking Here)
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After seeing the Anglican Shrine
Church etc, we walked back into
the courtyard and past the covered
fishpond, before going on, back
into the main street, and to the
local Museum, although on this
occasion, we just walked straight
through and out of its back
door, which opened out into the
grounds of the Abbey.
Not far away from the winding
path leading from the back door
was a wider path, which led down
a straight gentle slope to a place
where we were all able to stop
and have a good vantage point
for viewing the ruins of
Walsingham Abbey, and where
also Scilla was able to tell us the
history of same.
Afterwards, we walked to the left
and down the green, past trees
shedding their leaves and fruit,
until we were underneath the
main arch of the ruin.
Here again, Scilla spoke of the
Abbey and also about the main
house which overlooks it,
before we walked to the area
where there were several wells,
which the monks used to use,
and where also there is a tradition
of people throwing money into
them and wishing (Ang had to be
very careful on this occasion, for
when we were last here, many
years ago, she wished for a job,
and on returning home, she was
offered 4 within one week!!!)
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After viewing the wells etc, we walked briskly back to the Museum, and once there, Sclla ushered us
into the Georgian Court-Room and its adjoining cell where several of our family members were 'used'
to represent villains and crooks from the 1700-1800 period, and in our representation, we were
'charged' with having committed various offences.
In my capacity as one of the prisoners, I was found 'guilty', and my 'sentence' was transportation to
Australia for 7 years (and the best part was, that I wasn't going to have to pay anything towards my
fare!) Joking aside, we saw how biased the legal system was towards the landowner and how cheap
the lives of the 'common' person was in relation to them.
After a wonderful time spent in the courtroom, and a short wander in the adjoining Museum and little
shop, Scilla led us across the road and up through the nearby carpark, and out of a side gate to the
back of an old building.
Here we were 'treated' to the rare sight of Walsingham's old Prison, containing several rooms, with
their original doors and hard areas to sleep, etc, still in place, and we were told about some of the
historical inmates and what they had to do whilst being held there.
All too soon, we had to take our leave of Scilla, but not without thanking her ever so much for a really
fantastic insight into Walsingham and its 'secrets' etc, before we left the carpark, crossed the road
and made our way up the hill to ensure that we would be at Walsingham 'station' by 12.30am, in order
to catch the next stage of our transport to Wells-Next-the-Sea, which was to be on board one of the
'little' trains of the Walsingham & Wells Light Railway.
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Thursday 14 Sept
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Saturday 16 Sept
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Sunday 17 Sept
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