SAFFRON WALDEN CASTLE

Essex

This rather attractive town in the far north of Essex has one of the few Anarchy Castles to have survived with stonework in England (see also Scarborough, Yorkshire).  The Castle was built by Geoffrey de Mandeville, Earl of Essex - one of the key players in the Anarchy who swapped sides often and frequently at important moments.  He built several Castles in the area (see also Pleshey Castle).  King Stephen forced de Mandeville to surrender his Castles in 1142 when the Anarchy was at its height.  A year later de Mandeville was killed in battle.

Once the Anarchy had come to an end Henry II ordered most of the Adulterine Castles destroyed but somehow Saffron Walden escaped.  However, nothing further of note ever occurred here and the Castle slowly fell into ruin.

It seems possible that Geoffrey de Mandeville never finished Saffron Walden Castle which has a large ground plan, but sadly nothing more than the height of one storey.

The ruin stands in the grounds of the Saffron Walden Museum and is accessible at the same times as the museum is open.

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2001