NHER 2068 (Building record) - Slipper Chapel, Houghton St Giles, Barsham

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Summary

This 14th century chapel was built in about 1350 to 1380 and was designed for pilgrims to use on their way to Walsingham. The chapel was restored in 1896 and 1934 and at one time was used as a workhouse. It is now a centre of Roman Catholic pilgrimage and has been the National Shrine of Our Lady since 1934.

Protected Status/Designation

Location

Map sheet	TF93NW
Civil Parish	BARSHAM, NORTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

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Full Description

'Slipper Chapel'.

30 April 1980 Visit.
Name (implying pilgrims walked barefoot from here to Walsingham) has no antiquity although the chapel was designed for pilgrims to use. c.1350-80, much restored in 1896 (until then a cottage stood against it) and 1934.
It was at one time used as a workhouse.
West front has tall window with niche over, and on each side. Doorway below with main niche each side, brick-edged
niches beyond these, and little niches on the edge of the doorframe, suggesting donations made for images at various times. Plinths on gable apex and diagonally at each corner of base.
Square recesses each side of door interior. 2 Decorated windows to south, the eastern one taller. High roof on solid arched brackets partly 15th century and part restored.
Traces of an original 14th century roof on two pitches and a west gallery are said to have been found in the restorations.
Perpendicular piscina (original?). North door, east window and gable all modern. Recent appendages.
E. Rose (NLA).

See (S1) for architect.
Ordnance Survey Records. See photos in (S2).
R. J. Rickett (NAU), 4 June 1990

Associated Sources (16)

--- SNF11300 Aerial Photograph: TF 9235A.
--- SNF5067 Article in Serial: Clapham, A. 1951. Report of the Summer Meeting of the Institute at Norwich, 1949. Part III. Norwich: Cathedral, Churches, and Religious and Charitable Foundations: The Slipper Chapel, Houghton in the Dale, near Walsingham. The Archaeological Journal. Vol CVI p 110. p 110.
--- SNF58263 Monograph: Pevsner, N. and Wilson, B. 1997. Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. p 570.
--- SNF76071 Newspaper Article: Dereham and Fakenham Times. 1990. Grazing at chapel. 29 June.
--- SNF210 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1983. £40,000 repairs bill for chapel. 12 August.
--- SNF76072 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1997. [Photograph of Slipper Chapel]. 19 August.
--- SNF72597 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2009. Heavenly buildings. 19 November.
--- SNF98223 Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2016. Donor gives £4m to modernise shrine. 12 February.
--- SNF209 Newspaper Article: Mid Norfolk Advertiser. 1987. [Photograph of Slipper Chapel]. 23 July.
--- SNF87263 Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Medieval. Barsham.
--- SNF87263 Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Medieval. Barsham.
--- SNF57722 Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
--- SNF57204 Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TF 93 NW 10 [3].
--- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1> SNF2637 Article in Serial: Fawcett, R. 1980. A Group of Churches by the Architect of Great Walsingham. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XXVII Pt III pp 292-294. p 277.
<S2> SNF1562 Article in Serial: Firth, C. B. 1914. Village Gilds of Norfolk in the Fifteenth Century. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XVIII pp 161-203. p 161.

Site and Feature Types and Periods (3)

Object Types (0)

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Record last edited

Aug 29 2020 2:45PM