saffron
walden
historical society

Featured image for “Successful Summer Outing 2025”
June 26, 2025 • posted in News

Successful Summer Outing 2025

Seventeen members & guests of our Society enjoyed an afternoon being entertained by Richard Dolby, chairman of the Hadstock Society on Wednesday 25th June 2025
Read More
Featured image for “Catons Lane-Treasure: results of metal detector survey”
June 23, 2025 • posted in Articles

Catons Lane-Treasure: results of metal detector survey

With the kind permission of Steve Cox and the Saffron Walden Football Club. I was afforded the opportunity to conduct an extensive survey of the football pitch both before and during soil disturbance
Read More
Featured image for “Some Saffron Walden Buildings and their Architects”
June 19, 2025 • posted in Articles

Some Saffron Walden Buildings and their Architects

Saffron Walden’s many and remarkable old buildings include features of nearly every architectural period from Norman times until the present day.
Read More
Featured image for “Sir William Waad of Battles Hall, Manuden-Lieutenant of the Tower of London.”
June 14, 2025 • posted in Articles

Sir William Waad of Battles Hall, Manuden-Lieutenant of the Tower of London.

On the north wall of what used to be called ‘Battles’ Chapel’, now the vestry of St Mary’s Church, Manuden, is a large, elaborate tablet extolling the virtues of Sir William Waad who lived at Battles Hall, Manuden from 1586 to 1623
Read More
Featured image for “Radwinter’s Wartime Harvest Camp”
June 10, 2025 • posted in Articles

Radwinter’s Wartime Harvest Camp

The country was hard-pressed to feed itself during the war, looking to the farmers to plough every last acre. Come harvest time, there was a shortage of labour.
Read More
Featured image for “Manuden in wartime : A Moment in Time”
June 7, 2025 • posted in Articles

Manuden in wartime : A Moment in Time

The last few household possessions had been securely lifted into Mr Horley’s van and my mother had gone back to the cottage to lock the front door. She tried the handle again to make sure it was locked then put the key in an envelope, together with a note for Charlie. She walked briskly to his door and pushed it underneath. Walking back past our cottage she took one last look through the front window, hesitated a little, then turned and walked quite quickly down the path to the removal van.
Read More
Featured image for “Restoration plans revealed for ‘iconic’ windmill”
June 3, 2025 • posted in News

Restoration plans revealed for ‘iconic’ windmill

Today the “iconic” Fulbourn windmill is set to be restored to full working order after a charity stepped in to fund its repairs.
Read More
Featured image for “Skulduggery in the History of Strethall-A Millennium of Malfeasance in the Smallest Parish”
June 2, 2025 • posted in Articles

Skulduggery in the History of Strethall-A Millennium of Malfeasance in the Smallest Parish

Small parishes do not necessarily have brief histories. Strethall (600 acres, 11 houses – current population 22) is arguably the smallest parish in Essex but its origin can be traced back well before Domesday when the 10 hides of land sold by King Aethelred
Read More
Featured image for “The Grove Tennis Club celebrates 100 years at John Dane Player Court”
May 29, 2025 • posted in News

The Grove Tennis Club celebrates 100 years at John Dane Player Court

The Grove tennis club prides itself on being a friendly club and welcomes new members of all standards.
Read More
Featured image for “Widow Mowl-her story: Parish politics in 18th century rural England”
May 28, 2025 • posted in Articles

Widow Mowl-her story: Parish politics in 18th century rural England

Elizabeth Pomfrett was born in Saffron Walden in 1742. On the 2 May 1774 she married John Mowl, a higler of Thriplow in Thriplow Church.
Read More
Featured image for “Langley Methodist Church Closure”
May 23, 2025 • posted in Articles

Langley Methodist Church Closure

The final service at Langley Methodist Church on Sunday 18 July 2004 marked the end of over 142 years since the chapel was opened in 1862
Read More