WALSINGHAM, LITTLE or NEW, Norfolk, a town, and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, iu the parish of New Walsinghatn, is situated on both sides of the river Stiff key, in 52° 54' N. lat., 0° 54' E. long., distant 28 miles N.W. from Norwich, and 113 miles N.N.E. front London by road. The population of the parish in 1851 was 1207. The living is a perpetual curacy iu the archdeaeonry and diocese of Norwich. Waleingham Poor-Law Union contains 50 parishes and townships, with an area of 86,503 acres, and a population in 1S51 of 21,857.
Great or Old Walsiogham, and Little or New Welsingham, adjoin each other. Geoffrey de Favarches, in the reign of William the Con queror, founded here a monastery for Augustininn or Black Canons.
Au image of the Virgin, belonging to this foundation, was held in the very highest regard ; pilgrimages to the chapel or shrine of ' Our Lady of Walsiugham ' were even more frequent than those to the shrino of St. Thomas It Becket, and the possessions of the priory were augmented by large endowments and costly presents. There are some fine remains of the convent :—a richly-ornamented lofty arch, supposed to havo formed the east end of the conventual church ; the western entrance gateway to the monastery, having a broad flattened arch ; and other interesting portions, yet remain. The principal part of these ruins is
included in the pleasure-grounds of Walsiugham Abbey, the seat of the lord of the manor. There Wile a house of Franciscan or Gray Friars at Little Walsiugham ; there was also a lazar-house, founded in 1492, fare two leprous persons. This lazar-house has been enlarged, and is used as a bridewell. The parish church contains an ancient font of perpendicular character ; its carving is among the richest in England, representing the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church, and the Crucifixion. There are chapels for Wesleyan Methodists, Inde pendents, and Baptists a Free Grammar school, and National schools.
There is a yearly fair. Quarter sessions for the county are held in the town by adjournment twice in the year.