Discover 6 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Saffron Walden (United Kingdom). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Audley End House, Fry Art Gallery, and St. Mary the Virgin Church. Also, be sure to include Saffron Walden Library in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Saffron Walden (England).
Table of Contents
Audley End House
17th-century country house and grounds. Audley End House is a largely early 17th-century country house outside Saffron Walden, Essex, England. It is a prodigy house, a palace in all but name and renowned as one of the finest Jacobean houses in England.
Audley End is now one-third of its original size, but is still large, with much to enjoy in its architectural features and varied collections. The house shares some similarities with Hatfield House, except that it is stone-clad as opposed to brick. It is currently in the stewardship of English Heritage and long remained the family seat of the Barons Braybrooke. Audley End railway station is named after the house.[1]
Address: Audley Street, Saffron Walden
Fry Art Gallery
Art gallery in Saffron Walden, England. The Fry Art Gallery is an art gallery in Saffron Walden, Essex. Recognised as an Accredited Museum by Arts Council England, it displays work by artists of national significance who lived or worked in North West Essex during the twentieth century and after. The gallery is known for its comprehensive collection of work by the Great Bardfield Artists, including Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious.[2]
Address: Castle Street, CB10 1BD Saffron Walden
St. Mary the Virgin Church
Episcopal church in Saffron Walden, England. St Mary the Virgin is the parish church of Saffron Walden, Essex. It is the largest non-cathedral church in Essex with an overall length of 183 feet and the spire, 193 feet high, which is the tallest in Essex. It was designated as a Grade I listed building in 1951.
A Norman church was recorded in 1130, which in turn had replaced an earlier wooden structure. The building as it currently stands dates predominantly from a rebuilding between 1250 and 1258, with a further rebuilding in the Perpendicular style begun in about 1450, the latter stages supervised by John Wastell the master mason who was building King's College Chapel in the nearby city of Cambridge.
In 1769 the church was damaged by lightning. The repairs, carried out in the 1790s removed many medieval features but saved the building which was in a dilapidated state. The spire was added in 1832 to replace an older "lantern" tower to a design of Thomas Rickman and Henry Hutchinson.
Thomas Cornell, progenitor of the American family bearing his name, was baptized in the church around 1592.
The Conservative politician Rab Butler (1902–82) is buried in the churchyard. He promulgated the 1944 Education Act and twice nearly became Prime Minister.[3]
Address: Castle St, CB10 1BD Saffron Walden
Saffron Walden Library
Saffron Walden Town Hall is a municipal building in the Market Place, Saffron Walden, Essex, England. The structure, which was the headquarters of Saffron Walden Borough Council, is a Grade II listed building.[4]
Bridge End Gardens
Park in Saffron Walden, England. Bridge End Gardens is a group of linked ornamental gardens in Saffron Walden, Essex, England. The gardens are listed Grade II* on the Register of Parks and Gardens. They are located off Castle Street, close to the Fry Art Gallery. Features include a maze.[5]
Address: Bridge End, CB10 1BD Saffron Walden
Audley End Miniature Railway
Game and entertainment center, Scenic railroads, Tours, Playground, Bridge
Address: Audley End Rd, CB1 1 4 Saffron Walden