Visit Saffron Walden Places

Welcome to Visit Saffron Walden Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Saffron Walden

  

Saffron Walden Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Saffron Walden

---

Saffron Walden history

---

Archaeological evidence suggests continuous settlement on or near the site of Saffron Walden from at least the Neolithic period. It is believed that a small Romano-British settlement and fort – possibly in the area round Abbey Lane – existed as an outpost of the much larger settlement of Cestreforda to the north. Walden Castle, dating from about 1140, may have been built on pre-existing fortifications. The town’s first charter was granted in about 1300, to what was known then as Chepyng (i. e. Market) Walden.

Puritans and Quakers

Saffron Walden was at the centre of the Eastern Association during the English Civil War. Oliver Cromwell paid a 19-day visit to the town in May 1647, taking part in debates to seek a settlement between Parliament and the army. By the end of the 18th century saffron was no longer in demand and the industry was replaced by malt and barley.

Coat of arms and maces

Saffron Walden’s unofficial coat of arms showed saffron crocus within the walls of the castle in the form of an heraldic pun – as in, “Saffron walled-in” A formal coat of Arms was granted by the College of Arms in 1961. The town has three ceremonial maces, one made of silver gilt, one of which is 4 feet long.

Saffron Walden culture & places

Audley End House – once one of the largest mansions in England – is now in the care of English Heritage. Saffron Walden Museum, which was established in 1835, is close to the town castle. The museum contains the stuffed remains of a lion named Wallace (1812 – 1838), said to have inspired Marriott Edgar’s comic poem “The Lion and Albert”

Sport and leisure

Anglo American playing fields are home to Saffron Walden’s cricket club. They were donated to the town by the US forces after the Second World War. There is also a Rugby Club playing in the London Leagues and a long distance running and triathlon team.

Music

Saffron Walden is the name of a tune often associated with the hymn “Just as I Am” It was written by Arthur Henry Brown (1830–1926) from Essex. He wrote many hymn tunes, which he often named after favourite places.

You can visit Saffron Walden places with Walkfo Saffron Walden to hear history at Saffron Walden’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Saffron Walden has 24 places to visit in our interactive Saffron Walden map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Saffron Walden, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Saffron Walden places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Saffron Walden & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 24 audio facts unique to Saffron Walden places in an interactive Saffron Walden map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Saffron Walden Places Map
24 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

---

–

Saffron Walden historic spots	Saffron Walden tourist destinations	Saffron Walden plaques	Saffron Walden geographic features
Walkfo Saffron Walden tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Saffron Walden

  

Best Saffron Walden places to visit

---

Saffron Walden has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Saffron Walden’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Saffron Walden’s information audio spots:

Walden Abbey Walden Abbey was a Benedictine monastery in Saffron Walden, Essex, England. It was founded by Geoffrey de Mandeville, 1st Earl of Essex between 1136 and 1143. The abbey was elevated to the status of an abbey in 1190.

Walden Castle Walden Castle was a medieval castle in Essex, England, built during the Anarchy of the 12th century. Only the ruined core of the structure remains today.

Saffron Walden Town F.C. Saffron Walden Town Football Club is a football club based in Essex, England. They are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at Catons Lane.

Garden Organic Garden Organic, formerly known as the Henry Doubleday Research Association (HDRA), is a UK organic growing charity. The charity maintains the Heritage Seed Library to preserve vegetable seeds from heritage cultivars and make them available to growers.

St Mary the Virgin Church, Wendens Ambo St Mary the Virgin Church is a Church of England parish church in Wendens Ambo, Essex. It is listed Grade I for its architectural, historical and topographical value. It originally served the village of Wenden Magna (Great Wenden), which was merged with Wenden Parva (Little Wenden) in 1662.

Sewards End Sewards End is a village and civil parish in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England. The population of 511 in 2011 was 511 with 124 children under the age of 18 and 87 people aged over 64. There are about 210 houses in the village (2020) There are 23 listed buildings.

Visit Saffron Walden plaques