Welcome to SaffronShops.Com, the online information guide for Saffron Walden, Essex.
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A Brief History Of Saffron Walden
Saffron Walden is an historic medieval town and over the 360 years between 1140 and 1500, the success of different trades helped Saffron Walden grow up to become the successful and thriving town that it is today.
Saffron Walden is the only town in the country to be associated with the precious crop, saffron. Saffron was in great demand for the woollen industry and brought wealth to the town. The church benefited greatly from this commodity as spare gardens were used to grow saffron to provide money for the church. The wealth the church gained can still be seen today in the form of the magnificent spire which adorns the church.
Malt was another commodity which Saffron Walden successfully traded in the 1870's, Conical shaped roofs of the maltings dominated the skyline and there were once as many as 15 pubs in the town of which only a few remain today.
The income provided by trading helped fund a market square, a motte and bailey castle and of course the church and there is evidence to suggest that the town was abundant in other trades, with streets such as 'Butchers Row' and 'Tanner Row' among others showing that there was much more economic activity.
The cattle market also played an important part in the successful trade in the town. These were originally held in the current market square before being moved to Hill Street, which was closed and replaced by in a supermarket in the early 1980's although the original gate to the market still stands as a prominent landmark.
The town market is said to be one of the earliest in Essex (started in around 1141) and the town grew up around it.
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