Places to visit in Essex

Audley End

• Audley End,
• 1 mile W of Saffron Walden on B1383,
• Saffron Walden,
• Essex.
• Postcode: CB11 4JF
• Website: www.english-heritage.org.uk

Audley End, the Mansion c1910
Reproduced courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection.

Grand Jacobean mansion built by the first Earl of Suffolk between 1610 and 1614. It passed to Charles II who used it a palace because of its close proximity to Newmarket; it later returned to the Suffolk family and then the Griffin families. The mansion has been reduced in size and altered over the years with neo-classical features and a Gothic chapel added. Contains an historic picture collection, natural history collection, and furniture.

The gardens were remodelled by Capability Brown and has a delightful artificial lake in front of the house. The park has several monuments and temples. Immediately to the rear of the house there is also a wonderfully restored Victorian parterre.

Audley End, 1880

The property is now in the control of English Heritage. See above link for information on opening times.

Interior of Audley End - 19th century picture