is a small market town in the
Uttlesford district of
Essex ,
England . It is located 12 miles (19 km) north of
Bishop's Stortford and about 15 miles (24 km) south of
Cambridge . The town retains a picturesque, rural appearance and many very old buildings dating from the
Medieval period onwards. In
2001 the parish had a population of 15,095.
There has been a village on or near the site of present day Saffron Walden since before the
Roman occupation of
Britain , when Bronze and Iron Age tribes settled in the area. After the Romans withdrew from the country, a flourishing
Anglo-Saxon town was established.
With the
Norman invasion of
1066 , a stone church and castle were built. A Priory, later to become
Walden Abbey , was also founded. In
1141 the area’s market was transferred to the town from nearby
Newport , further increasing the area’s influence. The town’s first
Charter was granted in
1300 . This early town was known as
Chipping Walden.
In the
16th Century the primary trade in Saffron Walden was in wool. However, in the
17th and
18th Centuries the
Saffron Crocus (
Crocus Sativus ) became widely grown in the area. The flower was precious, as extract from the
Stigma s, the saffron, was used in medicines, as a condiment, as a perfume and as an expensive yellow dye. This industry gave its name to the town and Chipping Walden became Saffron Walden.
By the end of the
18th Century the saffron flower was no longer in such demand, and the flower was replaced by
Malt and
Barley . In the
1830s there were more than 30
Maltings and
Breweries running. Although this trade was not so rewarding as the saffron, the town continued to grow throughout the
19th Century , having a
Cattle Market and building a
Library and other civic buildings. During this time
Quakers became very active in Saffron Walden, the most influential family being the Gibsons, who aided in the construction of several buildings that remain today, such as the museum
{Link without Title} and the Town Hall.
Today, Saffron Walden is a flourishing, beautiful and historic town. Because it has never been sacked or destroyed by fire, many of the buildings, streets and features, especially in the centre of town, date back centuries. Although the
1900s brought many changes and expansion, the character of the town and the valley in which it sits remains strongly intact.
pattern]]
is what remains of the Walden Castle]]
Saffron Walden is home to the largest parish church in Essex. St. Mary and the Virgin dates mainly dates from the end of the
15th Century , when the previously existing and smaller church was extensively rebuilt in
Flint . In
1769 it was damaged by lightning and the repairs, carried out in the
1790s , removed many of the medieval features. The present
Spire was added in 1832 to replace an older ‘lantern’ tower. The church is 183 feet (56 m) long and the spire 193 feet (59 m) high.
Saffron Walden also features the ruins of the
12th Century Walden Castle, which is thought to have been built by
Geoffrey De Mandeville , the Second Earl of Essex. After the medieval period, the castle fell slowly into disuse and much of the flint was taken and used in the construction of local houses. All that remains today is the ruined central keep.
Nearby to the castle is the Maze, a series of circular excavations cut into the turf of the
Common . It is the largest
Turf Maze in England, the main part being about 100 feet (30 m) in diameter. The earliest record of it was in
1699 , and it has been extensively restored several times, most recently in
1979 .
Another tourist attraction is
Audley End , a
Manor House built by the Earl of Suffolk in the
17th Century on the site of the medieval Walden Abbey. When first constructed, the house was one of the largest in England. However, two thirds of it was later demolished when it was found to be difficult to maintain. The house and gardens are now owned by
English Heritage and are open to the public.
Nearby Audley End is the Audley End Miniature Railway, which is a 10 ¼"
Gauge railway ride through woodland filled with
Teddies . The ride is 1.5 miles long and has been part of the Saffron Walden landscape since it was opened in
1964 . It is a popular site with children.
At the north edge of the town are Bridge End Gardens, which date from the
1840's and were originally laid out by Francis Gibson, a member of the locally well-known Gibson family who were eminent
Quakers , bankers and brewers.
Other sites include the common, the Corn Exchange (now a library) and the
Market Square around which a number of buildings of historical interest are centred. Market Days are Tuesdays and Saturdays.
