Discover Great Snoring

Great Snoring appeals to travellers looking to combine a stay with architectural and commemorative history. St Mary brings together medieval building phases and remarkable furnishings; the Old Rectory, the War Memorial and the history of the Walsingham Union Workhouse offer other points of historical interest. There are also specific options for walking: a named circular walk and the Norwich to Walsingham Pilgrimage Route pass through or lead on from the village. When looking for hotels in Great Snoring, consider whether church art, local memorial sites or routes towards Walsingham should be the focus of your trip.

St Mary: Building History and Preserved Furnishings

St Mary dates from the 13th century; additions from the 14th and 15th centuries reveal later building phases. The chancel contains a 15th-century rood screen with two painted panels that survived the Reformation. The screen and panels therefore draw attention not only to the church’s age but also to the survival of individual furnishings.

Other notable features include a rare royal coat of arms of James II. St Mary also has a battlefield cross brought back from the battlefields of France. Alongside the medieval building phases, later examples of royal and military commemoration are therefore part of the church’s furnishings.

From most parts of St Mary’s churchyard, there are wide views across the fields; the scenery may change with the seasons. St Mary’s Church is normally open daily from around 10 am to 4 pm. Check opening hours before your visit if the church is part of your day’s plans.

The Old Rectory and War Memorial

The Old Rectory is listed as a Grade II* building. It was built as a manor house for the Shelton family and later became the rectory. Its original design was unusual: the hexagonal house was built around an open courtyard. Its architecture and changing use give the building a distinct place alongside St Mary’s medieval history.

The Great Snoring War Memorial dates from 1921 and was later amended to include the Second World War. It commemorates 22 local servicemen who died in the First World War, as well as two men who fell in the Second World War. Its date of construction and later additions make its association with both wars an important part of its history.

The Walsingham Union Workhouse

A new Walsingham Union workhouse was built on the edge of Great Snoring in 1836. The main buildings no longer survive. The complex soon became known as “Thursford Castle”; a stone at the south entrance still bears this name. The ruined chapel is the largest surviving structure in the complex. Its construction date, the name passed down through history and the surviving building each represent different aspects of its local history. Check local conditions before including the chapel in your visit plans.

Circular Walk and Pilgrimage Route

Great Snoring lies on Walk 3, the “Green Way circular walk to Great Snoring”. The Norwich to Walsingham Pilgrimage Route also passes through the village, via The Street and Barsham Road. On leaving Great Snoring along Barsham Road, pilgrims turn onto the Greenway towards Walsingham.

The route information offers different points of reference: Walk 3 is described as a circular walk with Great Snoring in its name; the pilgrimage route highlights the route from Norwich to Walsingham and the direction from Great Snoring. Check local access and path conditions before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Corpusty, Matlaske, Northwold, Marsham, Burnham Market, North Elmham, Toft Monks, Stalham.

For the main travel overview: Norfolk.