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Saffron Walden
Saffron Walden (Essex)
Saffron Walden

Saffron Walden shown within Essex
Population 15,095
OS grid reference TL541387
District Uttlesford
Shire county Essex
Region East
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town SAFFRON WALDEN
Postcode district CB10-11
Dialling code 01799
Police Essex
Fire Essex
Ambulance East of England
European Parliament East of England
UK Parliament Saffron Walden
List of places: UK • England • Essex

Coordinates: 52°01′34″N 0°14′42″E / 52.0262, 0.2449

Saffron Walden is a small market town in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England. Essex is a county in the East of England. The County town is Chelmsford, and the highest point of the county is Chrishall Common In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using Latitude and Longitude The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government Energy policy In May 2006, a report commissioned by British Gas showed that housing in Uttlesford produced the highest average carbon emissions in the country Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties are one of the four levels of Subdivisions of England used for the purposes of Local government outside Greater London Essex is a county in the East of England. The County town is Chelmsford, and the highest point of the county is Chrishall Common The region, also known as the government office region, is currently the highest tier of local government sub-national entity of England, with only one The East of England is one of the nine official Regions of England. Constituent country is a phrase used often by official institutions in contexts in which a country makes up a part of a larger entity or grouping England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland This list of sovereign states, alphabetically arranged gives an overview of States around the world with information on the extent of their Sovereignty. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A post town is a required part of all postal addresses in the United Kingdom, and a basic unit of the postal delivery system UK Postal codes are known as postcodes. UK postcodes are Alphanumeric. The, also known as the Cambridge postcode area, is a group of postal districts around Cambridge, Ely, Haverhill, Newmarket and The UK Telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Telephone Numbering Plan, is the system used for assigning Telephone numbers in the United There are a number of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom. Essex Police is a Home Office (territorial police force with responsibility for policing the County of Essex in the East of England. The fire service in the United Kingdom operates under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS is the Statutory FRS (fire and rescue service for the county of Essex in the southeast of England and is The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust is the authority responsible for providing NHS Ambulance services in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, East of England is a Constituency of the European Parliament. This is a list of the 646 constituencies currently represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, as at the 2005 general election Saffron Walden is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. A Gazetteer of place names in the United Kingdom showing each place's County, Unitary authority or council area and its geographical coordinates List of places --> List of cities in the United Kingdom List of towns in England Lists of places This is a list of cities, Towns Villages and other named geographical features in the County of Essex, England. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Energy policy In May 2006, a report commissioned by British Gas showed that housing in Uttlesford produced the highest average carbon emissions in the country Essex is a county in the East of England. The County town is Chelmsford, and the highest point of the county is Chrishall Common England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland It is located 12 miles (19 km) north of Bishop's Stortford, 15 miles (24 km) south of Cambridge and approx 35 miles (56 km) north of London. Bishop's Stortford is a Market town in east Hertfordshire, England, on the County boundary with Essex. The city of Cambridge (ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. 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 although this has increased marginally since then. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar.

Contents

History

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. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial Roman Britain refers to those parts of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire between AD 43 and 410 After the Romans withdrew from the country, a flourishing Anglo-Saxon town was established. For their language see Anglo-Saxon language. Anglo-Saxon is the term usually used to describe the invading Tribes in the south

With the Norman invasion of 1066, a stone church was built. The castle was constructed c. 1116. A Priory, later to become Walden Abbey, was also founded under the patronage of Geoffrey de Mandeville, first Earl of Essex around 1136. Geoffrey de Mandeville 1st Earl of Essex (1st Creation (d Sept The abbey was separated from the town of Walden by Holywell Field, which was enclosed in the sixteenth century to form part of the park of Audley End, the house of Sir Thomas Audley, who converted the abbey cloisters to a dwelling c. 1538-44. The inner or Little Court of the seventeenth-century house corresponds to one of the cloisters.

The basement is what remains of the Walden Castle
The basement is what remains of the Walden Castle

In 1141 the area’s market was transferred to the town from nearby Newport, further increasing the area’s influence. A basement is one or more floors of a building that are either completely or partially below the Ground floor. Newport is a village in Essex near Saffron Walden, in which Newport Free Grammar School is located The town’s first charter was granted in 1300. A charter is the grant of authority or rights stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified This early town was known as Chipping Walden. The town was at first largely confined to the castle's outer bailey, but in the 13th century the Battle or Repell Ditches were built or extended, to enclose a new larger area to the south. The focus of the town moved southwards to Market Square.

In the medieval period the primary trade in Saffron Walden was in wool. However, in the 16th century and 17th century the saffron crocus (crocus sativus) became widely grown in the area. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar Saffron ( Kurdish/Persian زَعْفَرَان is a Spice derived from the dried Stigma of the Flower of the saffron crocus ( Crocus sativus CROCUS is a Research reactor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland, sometimes described as zero power but in fact limited Saffron ( Kurdish/Persian زَعْفَرَان is a Spice derived from the dried Stigma of the Flower of the saffron crocus ( Crocus sativus The flower was precious, as extract from the stigmas, the saffron, was used in medicines, as a condiment, as a perfume, as an aphrodisiac, and as an expensive yellow dye. A gynoecium (from Ancient Greek gyne, "woman" is the Female reproductive part of a Flower. 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. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system Malting is a process applied to Cereal grains in which the grains are made to Germinate by soaking in water and are then quickly halted from germinating further Barley ( Hordeum vulgare) is an annual Cereal Grain, which serves as a major animal Feed crop, with smaller amounts used for In the 1830s there were more than 30 maltings and breweries running. Events and trends Electromagnetic induction discovered by Michael Faraday. Malting is a process applied to Cereal grains in which the grains are made to Germinate by soaking in water and are then quickly halted from germinating further A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of Beer, though beer can be made in the home and has been for much of beer's history 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. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar A library is a collection of information sources resources and services and the structure in which it is housed it is organized for use and maintained by a public body an institution 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 [1] and the Town Hall.

The 1900s saw expansion of the Saffron Walden branch railway line that extended from Audley End, on the mainline from london to Cambridge, to Bartlow. Overview The line was opened between Audley End and Saffron Walden on 21 November 1865 and to Bartlow in 1866 Audley End House ( is largely an early 17th-century Country house just outside Saffron Walden, Essex, south of Cambridge, England Bartlow is a village and Civil parish in the South Cambridgeshire district of Cambridgeshire, England, about south-east of Cambridge This closed with the Beeching cuts in the 1960s. The Beeching Axe is an informal name for the British Government 's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system Some light industrial areas to the east, in particular Acrow Ltd, makes of falsework and the south of the town were added to diversify the employment. Falsework consists of temporary structures used in Construction to support spanning or arched structures in order to hold the component in place until its construction is sufficiently In the 1980s major expansion of housing estates to the south expanded the housing stock significantly.

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.

Saffron Walden's Coat of Arms

Saffron Walden did not have an official coat of arms until 1960. A coat of arms or armorial bearings (often just arms for short in European tradition is a design belonging to a particular person (or group of people Until that date an unofficial coat of arms was used. It is not certain when these arms were first used, although they are engraved on the large mace given to the town in 1685. These arms show the Saffron Crocus within the walls of the castle. They are intended as an heraldic pun - "Saffron walled-in".

In 1961 the Borough Council applied to the College of Arms for a formal coat of arms, which was granted by Letters patent. The College of Arms, or Heralds' College, is an office regulating Heraldry and granting new Armorial bearings for England, Wales Letters patent are a type of Legal instrument in the form of an Open letter issued by a Monarch or Government, granting an office right Following the Local Government reorganisation of 1974 these arms were adapted by the addition of mantling and today, form the official arms of Saffron Walden Town Council. A town council is a democratically elected form of government for small municipalities or Parishes A council may serve as both the representative and executive branch

The official armorial description is:-

"Vert within a representation of town walls having two towers and a Gateway between towers Argent three Saffron Flowers issuant from the battlements of the gateway blown and showing the stamens proper And for the Crest On a Wealth of the Colours Upon a Chapeau Gules turned up Ermine a Lion rampant Azure grasping in the dexter paw a representation of the Ancient Mace of the Borough of Saffron Walden proper"

Sites and buildings of interest

A diagram of Saffron Walden turf maze, an unusual variation on the medieval labyrinth pattern
A diagram of Saffron Walden turf maze, an unusual variation on the medieval labyrinth pattern

Saffron Walden is home to the largest parish church in Essex. A maze is a complex Tour puzzle in the form of a complex branching passage through which the solver must find a route In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth ( Greek λαβύρινθος labyrinthos) was an elaborate structure designed and built by the legendary artificer St. Mary the Virgin dates mainly from the end of the 15th century, when the previously existing and smaller church was extensively rebuilt in flint. Flint (or flintstone) is a hard sedimentary Cryptocrystalline form of the Mineral Quartz, categorized as a variety of Chert In 1769 it was damaged by lightning and the repairs, carried out in the 1790s, removed many of the medieval features. Year 1769 ( MDCCLXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events and trends French Revolution ( 1789 - 1799) It is considered to have effectively ended on November 9, 1799 when The present spire was added in 1832 to replace an older ‘lantern’ tower. A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building particularly a church Tower. The church is 183 feet (56 m) long and the spire 193 feet (59 m) high, and is the tallest in Essex.

A photo of the turf maze
A photo of the turf maze

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 basement.

Nearby to the castle is the Maze, a series of circular excavations cut into the turf of the common. Common land (a common) is a piece of land owned by one person but over which other people can exercise certain traditional rights such as allowing their livestock to graze It is the largest turf maze in England, the main part being about 100 feet (30 m) in diameter. Historically a turf maze is a Labyrinth made by cutting a convoluted path into a level area of short Grass, turf or Lawn. The earliest record of it was in 1699, and it has been extensively restored several times, most recently in 1979. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar)

There is also a hedge maze in nearby Bridge End Gardens. The garden, which lies off Castle Street and Bridge Street, dates from the 1840s and was originally laid out by Francis Gibson, a member of the locally well-known Gibson family who were eminent Quakers, bankers and brewers. Events and trends Technology First use of General anesthesia in an operation by Crawford Long. Close to the Bridge End Gardens is the Fry Art Gallery which exhibits the work of artists who had an association with Saffron Walden and north west Essex. The Fry Art Gallery is an Art gallery located in Saffron Walden, Essex, England. One artist of note included in the Fry Art Gallery collection is Edward Bawden who lived in the town during the 1970s and 80s.

Image:St. Mary the Virgin Church.jpg
St. Mary and the Virgin Church

Nearby is the Anglo American playing fields and monument to commemorate the American airmen and people of Saffron Walden borough that died in the 2nd world war. [2]

Another tourist attraction is Audley End, a manor house built by the Earl of Suffolk in the seventeenth century on the site of the medieval Walden Abbey, which had been rebuilt by Sir Thomas Audley. Audley End House ( is largely an early 17th-century Country house just outside Saffron Walden, Essex, south of Cambridge, England A manor house or fortified manor-house is a Country house, which has historically formed the administrative centre of a manor (see Manorialism 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. English Heritage is a Non-departmental public body of the United Kingdom government ( Department for Culture Media and Sport) with a broad remit of During the summer months; several concerts which help make up the BBC Proms are held here. The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily Orchestral It is usually an evening of music varying from classical to rock to jazz followed by a fireworks display. Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Another annual fireworks display is held on the Saturday nearest to the 5th November. This event is organised by the Round Table and is held on the common - near the maze.

Nearby Audley End is the Audley End Miniature Railway, which is a 10 ¼" gauge railway ride through woodland. Rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the two parallel rails that make up a railway track. The ride is 1. 5 miles long and has been part of the Saffron Walden landscape since it was opened in 1964. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. It is a popular site with children.

Saffron Walden is home to one of the finest quality concrete skate parks in Europe, One Minet Park, built by US company Dreamland.

Other sites include the Corn Exchange (now a library) and the market square around which a number of buildings of historical interest and the Town Hall are centred. Market Square may refer to any Market square. Market Square may also refer to;Specific market squares In Canada Market Square Market Days are Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Politics

The town is administered by Saffron Walden Town Council, a council of 15 members. It is currently controlled by the Conservative Party. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. The town's mayor is Councillor Mike Hibbs. A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government The youngest Councillor ever elected to the council was David-James Sadler at 21yrs old. [1]. Both in the town and the surrounding district of Uttlesford, the Liberal Democrats are the major opposition party.

The town is divided into three wards: Audley (named after Audley End house) represents the west area of Saffron Walden including the village of Audley End; Castle takes its name from Saffron Walden Castle and represents the north area of Saffron Walden, the village of Little Walden and the large rural areas north of the Town; Shire (formerly Plantation) represents the southern part of Saffron Walden. Sewards End was once a ward, but it has recently become its own Parish. Sewards End is a village and Civil parish in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England.

Maces of Saffron Walden

The ceremonial Maces are derived from weapons of war. Today's ceremonial Maces are a highly ornamental successor to the prehistoric club or bludgeon.

The Mace was adopted as a special weapon of the Serjeants-at-Arms appointed first by Philip II of France (1180-1223) to protect him from suspected assassins when he returned to France. A similar bodyguard was instituted by Richard I of England. Curiously the Mace was also the particular weapon of a Bishop or Churchman when he took the field in war. Apparently the argument was that whilst it was not considered appropriate for a man of God to shed another person's blood with a sword or battle axe, to crack his skull was permitted.

Over time, the officers allowed to attend on Sheriffs, Bailiffs and Mayors gradually became less of an armed personal bodyguard, and more a Messenger to convey the Royal orders to local authorities; so the Mace with Royal Arms inscribed on it which he carried became the obvious and visible token of Royal authority.

In the course of time, the hitting end of the Mace fell out of use and the handle end increased in importance. This end became highly decorated and the Maces became no longer an offensive weapon but a symbol of authority. Today's ceremonial Maces are therefore now carried, so to speak, upside down.

The Large Mace

The Large Mace was given to Saffron Walden by James II in 1685. The mace, which is made of silver gilt is approximately 4 feet. Around its head are the symbols of the four constituent countries of the British Isles; the rose of England, the thistle of Scotland, the harp of Wales and the tricorn of Ireland. On the main stem are engraved the coat of Arms of the town as they existed in 1685.

The Mace is carried in front of the Mayor on all ceremonial occasions by the Town's macebearer. The present macebearer is Mark Gilbert.

Two Small Maces

The two small maces are made of silver, measure approx. 9 inches and weigh about 2lbs. each. The maces were purchased by the Corporation in 1549 to commemorate in that year the granting to the town of a new charter by Edward VI. The purchase of the maces is recorded in the Guild of Holy Trinity Accounts and reads:-

"For 2 new maces, weying 18 ownces one quarter and half at 8s. the ownce 71. 7s"

The two small macebearers used to be carried by the Sergeant-at Arms, but during the last war this tradition ceased. The maces are kept on view in the town's museum.

Hymn tune

Saffron Walden is the name of a hymn tune, often associated with the hymn Just as I am. A hymn tune is a musical composition to which a hymn text is sung A hymn is a type of Song, usually religious specifically written for the purpose of praise adoration or Prayer, and typically addressed to a deity/deities Just as I Am is a well-known Hymn, written by Charlotte Elliott in 1835 first appearing in the Christian Remembrancer, of which Elliott became It was written by Arthur Henry Brown (1830-1926) from Essex. [2][3] He wrote many hymn tunes, which he often named after his favourite places, but there is no recorded reason for his naming of this tune.

Notable births and residents

References

  1. ^ Saffron Walden Town Councillors (HTML). Retrieved on 2008-04-25. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar.
  2. ^ Arthur Henry Brown. Retrieved on 2008-02-24. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 303 - Galerius, Roman Emperor, publishes his edict that begins the persecution of Christians in his portion of the
  3. ^ Saffron Walden.

See also

External links


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