History of Hotel
The Black Lion Hotel is located in Heart of the picturesque Norfolk village of Little Walsingham, on the medieval Friday Market Place. Only 4 miles inland from the North Norfolk coast, this area is steeped in history and ideally located as a base for exploring the North Norfolk coast. The beautiful sandy beaches of Wells-next-the-Sea can be accessed by the Wells and Walsingham Light Steam Railway only a few minutes walk from the hotel .
The Black Lion is the oldest of the hostelries ministering to medieval pilgrims of the famous shrine of “Our Lady of Walsingham”. Legend has it, the Hotel gained the name Black Lion from the shield of arms of Queen Philippa of Hainault, wife of King Edward III of England in the 13th Century. Who reputedly lodged, whilst on pilgrimages, in a building on the site of what is now the Hotel and adjoining apartments.
The northern end dating to around the 15th century, is thought to be the oldest part of the building . Its attic contains Queen and Princess struts, not found elsewhere in Norfolk. The Hotel itself has a timber framed front and thought to be 16th century. The right hand corner and coaching entrance have been dated to 1653, when it first became a Coaching Inn. During the 18th century the Petty Sessions were held in the adjoining building until the court moved to the Shirehall in 1861.