THE SIGN HUNTERS

ENGLAND: The Saffron Walden sign hunt

Written by Laszlo, 27 December 2023

Since relocating to Cambridge earlier this year, we've embarked on a gradual exploration of the East Anglia Region of England. Our adventures are rooted in sign hunting, and the East Anglia landscape offers a treasure trove of unique settlement signs that we eagerly seek out for our growing collection. However, our means of transportation has become notably slower.

The focus of this article is our recent excursion to Saffron Walden, not our first in the area but certainly one of the better-documented journeys, worthy of being more than just a fleeting memory. This marks our first post since the end of summer, signalling our intent to share our experiences more regularly. In the past few months, we've also released a series of short sign hunting videos available on our YouTube Channel (check out the playlist here).

Living not far from Saffron Walden, our usual mode of transport was disrupted when our car was stolen in September. Undeterred, this time we relied on the no.7 bus, a 45-minute journey from Sawston.

Situated in the north-western corner of Essex, approximately 15 miles from Cambridge and 40 miles from London, Saffron Walden is a quaint town with a population of around 15,000 residents. Its historical identity is tied to the local industry, based on the saffron flower (Crocus sativus), which eventually gave the town its current name.

During our visit, we delved into the town center, starting at the market. Our focus turned to the abundance of charity and antique shops that characterise Saffron Walden. We also successfully located the site of Waldon Castle, where the remnants of the old construction still stand. Adjacent to the castle stands the most prominent building in the town: St Mary the Virgin parish church, a Grade I listed building since 1951, with a rich history dating back to the 7th century.

As we meandered through the streets of Saffron Walden, we marveled at its many historic buildings, attempting to capture their essence during our visit. Unfortunately, daylight began to wane, concluding our short trip but leaving us with enough photographs to make this post both memorable and visually captivating. We hope you enjoy this glimpse into our Saffron Walden exploration.