NEW ISSUE: No 29 Spring 2015
An unusual view of Saffron Walden High Street, designed by Nick Crawley, cleverly blends a view from the top of the High Street in 1820 with the same view today, to introduce the latest issue of the Saffron Walden Historical Journal, published in spring 2015, and recently reprinted due to demand. The issue is packed with many new works of original research on Saffron Walden and the local villages.
A scoop for the Journal is the announcement by archaeologist Maria Medlycott of the discovery of human remains when the Tudor Works site was being cleared for development in February. The bones are thought to relate to a Iron Age/ late Roman site found many years ago when the nearby water tower was being constructed.
Also published for the first time is Martyn Everett’s description of the treatment meted out to a member of the Friends’ Meeting House, High Street, Cornelius Barritt who was victimised as a conscientious objector during WWI.
The High Street is the focus of several articles in this issue, centred on a nostalgic wander by Bruce Munro down the street as it appeared in the early 1950s, illustrated by the iconic photographs of David Campbell.
The life of one of its residents, Dr Hedley Bartlett, whose medical practice was in the High Street, is described by Zofia Everett.
There is also the history of the oldest retail business in the street, Gray Palmer who have kindly sponsored this issue of the journal.
Articles on local villages include a pioneering study, never published before, by Stuart Moore of how pastoral landscape evolved in Anglo Saxon times; and a study of the undertakers’ records in Sampford by Adrian Gray. A curios building in the grounds of Elm Grove is explored by local geologist Gerald Lucy.
The major new publication by the Society, a history of Walden in the 15th century, is reviewed along with other new local history books.
The Journal, which is published by the Saffron Walden Historical Society, is on sale at the Tourist Information Centre and other outlets, priced £3.
Journal contents No 29
Human remains identified at the Tudor Works Site, Saffron Walden by Maria Medlycott
Cornelius Barritt: a WWI conscientious objector from Saffron Walden by Martyn Everett
The Remarkable Dr Hedley Bartlett by Zofia Everett
Obituary: Dr Kenneth Dixon (1920-2015)
Gray Palmer, High Street by Robert Palmer
A Stroll down Saffron Walden High Street in the Early 1950s by Bruce Munro
The High Street Then and Now
The Location of Anglo-Saxon Common Pasture: a study of Clavering and Langley, Essex by Stuart Moore
A 16th Century Dagger and Distal Portion of a Scabbard found at Wicken Bonhunt, Essex by
Bari Hooper
Magna Carta 800th Anniversary
William Gray Senior and Junior: Undertakers of Great Sampford by Adrian G. Gray
The Elm Grove Summerhouse: a geological curiosity by Gerald Lucy
Three major new local historical books: Chepyng Walden; A History of Newport: Lest We Forget
History News
Clever artwork on the front cover. Loved the article on the High Street. As a resident who has only lived in the town for 30 years it adds a new dimension to my stroll along the High St. Can anyone do something similar for other roads in the town?
Another article is already commissioned from the same author, Bruce Munro, to look at another of the town streets, however we always welcome articles – please get in touch if you wish to suggest any ideas.