Pre-Reformation, Walsingham was England’s most important shrine. The reason why pilgrims were attracted to Walsingham in great numbers, was because of a local noblewoman who had a vision of the Virgin Mary and said that her soul had been transported to the house in Nazareth. She was told in the vision to build a replica of the house which she named the Holy House. This was initially a simple wooden structure but later became richly decorated with gold and precious stones. The house attracted pilgrims to Walsingham from all over Europe. The shrine was completely destroyed at the time of the Dissolution, but its site is marked in the grounds of the ruined Walsingham Priory.