Walsingham Abbey Snowdrops

Discover amazing displays of Snowdrops in the 18 acre grounds at the historic Walsingham Abbey -  trails take you through woodland, and  along the banks of the River Stiffkey.
Although the snowdrops here may date back to the Roman times.
But the present displays date back to about 75 years ago, when the Abbey owners and gardeners worked to extend the spread to the furthest reaches of the grounds. In the 20th century snowdrop growing here became a cottage industry with bunches being sent down to London's Covent Garden Flower Market by train.

BACKGROUND - Walsingham has a long history of religious pilgrimage, dating back to the 11th century and it attracts visitors from all over the world, only the ruins remain of the Abbey.

More info from Walsingham Village Website below.

England's Nazareth 
Walsingham has been a place of pilgrimage since the Middle Ages — one of the four great shrines of medieval Christendom, ranking alongside Jerusalem, Rome and Santiago da Compostella.

The Vision
In 1061 the lady of the manor, Richeldis de Faverches, had a series of visions of the Virgin Mary, who showed her the house in Nazareth where the angel Gabriel made his revelation of the forthcoming birth of Jesus. Our Lady asked Richeldis to build a replica of the holy house here in Walsingham. 
Founded at the time of the Crusades when it was impossible to visit the Holy Land, English Christians were able to visit 'Nazareth' in their own country. Walsingham became the premier shrine to Our Lady and around it grew a large monastery.