Q: If you are asking for help to fill gaps in series of Shrine literature, how can we know what you want?

A: Following this very sensible question I shall be posting a list somewhere on this site before long - now online

Q: What is the Shrine archives' relationship with the Norfolk Record Office?

A: Excellent: we are recognised as a repository on equal terms with the others in the eastern region, like the NRO and Norwich Union [Aviva] Archives. I attend meetings whenever I can and exchange news with my colleagues.

Q: Is there medieval material relating to Walsingham in the Norfolk Record Office?

A: I am sure I will find references there when I can get down to the medieval period, as I will in places like the British Library and other record offices. I hope to write more on the archaeology as well: perhaps some archaeologist reading this will feel able to do some badly-needed research to review what limited material there is on the subject.

Q: Is there much to see in the archives room?

A: All the archives are stored in protective conservation stationery and boxes, out of the light, and are therefore not on permanent show like museum artefacts would be. So no archives are actually visible. Record offices rely heavily on storage charts or tables - everything has its place and can be found instantly when required. This means that the items can be stored to suit their sizes and the available storage facilities, and do not have to be kept in numerical order. This task is not yet complete here, but we are well on the way.

Q: Do you have many people wanting to use the archives for research?

A: No. The greatest user in recent times was Michael Yelton in his very thorough research for his biography of Fr Patten, published in October 2006. No one else will want to go over the same ground, but there are requests from time to time for information to be sent on a specific subject, and most use of all comes from people asking us to supply photographs for various publications, copyright permitting.

Q: Are you interested in copies of films about Walsingham from the television, or radio pieces, or do you have them all?

A: Yes, very interested. We might have it, but we have very little and we have no way of knowing what exists. It's better to be offered it than not. There probably are not that many to collect, but we would like to have a copy of everything if we could.

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all DVDs of the 1938 film ordered at the 2008 Weekend
were despatched on 28 & 29 March