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The Saffron Walden Historical Journal has been published twice a year since 2001 by the Saffron Walden Historical Society, and aims to put into the public domain new research on the history of Saffron Walden and the villages of North-west Essex. Previous to this the Society had published the journal Saffron Walden History from 1972 to 1991 – these are packed with information mostly on the town itself, and the archive volumes can be found in the Gibson Library, Saffron Walden. For further information on the Old Series Journal, click here.

The Journal also includes local history news, new publications and other items of interest. The range of topics is wide – family history and individual stories, archaeology and landscape history, buildings, agriculture, wartime, churches, railways, education, religion, sport, reminiscences etc and covering every period from prehistory to the 20th century. For a list of article titles, click here: Saffron Walden Historical Society Index of Titles (pdf).

Extracts from articles (minus some images) from out-of-print issues can be viewed  online.

The New Series Journal

The New Series Journal began publication in the spring 2001, edited by Jacqueline Cooper. From 2023 the Hon Editor is Helen Lunnon, assisted by Martin Rose. A great debt is owed to Gordon Ridgewell who set up the Journal layout from its early days until 2014, and to Geoffrey Ball who organised distribution until 2016. In 2014 the Journal was re-designed by graphic designer Nick Crawley.  The Journal has a wider remit than the earlier series, covering not just the town, but NW Essex more generally and with modern digital methods, able to include images. Since its launch, the Journal has grown steadily in quality and reputation, publishing several hundred articles on a wide range of subjects, by over 150 different authors, as well as history news and photo features. Articles continue to be offered and sales remain high, and we look forward to many more years of producing a high-quality publication reflecting the fascinating history of Saffron Walden and its environs.

Editorial Team

Editor: Helen Lunnon
Deputy Editor: Martin Rose
Design: Nick Crawley
Distribution: Chris Clarke
Sales: Malcolm White

The Editor welcomes submissions, which should firstly be discussed. Articles should be previously unpublished and relate to the history of Saffron Walden or the villages of NW Essex. Submissions should be discussed in the first instance with the Editor. For information on matters relating to the Journal, please email: journal@saffronwaldenhistory.org.uk

Deadline Spring issue: 1 January

     Deadline Autumn issue: 1 August

Articles can be any length from 500 – 5,000 words or more and typescripts should be accompanied with a digital copy on CD or by email attachment, in Word or Rich Text format, and include references to sources used. Please do NOT use formatted endnotes or word-wrapped images. A style sheet is available on request to the Editor. Illustrations should not be embedded in the text, but sent as separate high-resolution jpeg format, or as hard copy, with clear indications as to provenance, and proof of permission to use the images. Articles are accepted on the understanding that, except by prior arrangement, they are previously unpublished.

PLEASE NOTE: All articles are copyright and are made available online for research purposes only. This does not constitute permission to re-publish elsewhere, and those wishing to publish in any other media must obtain permission from the authors via the Editor.

The Society also publishes history books under the imprint SWHS Publications.