Ancestors lost in the crowd?
New to family history research?
Perhaps these articles on our website may help:
Census 1841 - 1911
Birth, Death and Marriage Registration
The London Gazette
Newspaper archives
Trade Directories
History of Saffron Walden
Saffron Walden, Bridge Street 1907
Reproduced courtesy of The Francis Frith Collection.
Welcome to the home page for the History of Saffron Walden and its inhabitants.
Below you find links to a range of sources transcribed by History House. Further below under 'more local history sources' you will find to links to other places on the web where you can continue your research.
For other locations in Essex see our alphabetical list of Essex towns and villages.
Pigot's Directory of Essex 1823
Pigot's Directory of Essex 1823 - list of inhabitants.
Poll of Voters 1847
Saffron Walden inhabitants who voted in the 1847 general election.
White's Directory of Essex 1848
SAFFRON WALDEN is a municipal borough and handsome market town, delightfully situated in the heart of >>more.
White's Directory of Essex 1848 - list of inhabitants.
White's Directory of Essex 1863
White's Directory of Essex 1863 - list of inhabitants.
Essex Almanac 1866
Essex Almanac of 1866 - a description of Saffron Walden.
Post Office Directory of Essex 1874
Post Office Directory of Essex 1874 - list of inhabitants.
Saffron Walden Criminal Cases
Court cases involving Saffron Walden residents - ongoing project >>more.
Education in Saffron Walden
Reports and returns on schools and education in Saffron Walden.
Saffron Walden Snippets
When researching for this website we often find a little snippet of information on a location or subject which may be of interest. Here's one for Saffron Walden.
Places to visit
Audley End - Grand house once owned by Charles II. >>more
Images and Maps
Images and maps of Saffron Walden by Francis Frith.
Saffron Walden Poor
Under the Poor Law of 1834, Saffron Walden became part of the Saffron Walden Union. See our article on researching your workhouse and pauper ancestors.
Saffron Walden Workhouse 1800 - 1815
List of names of those in Saffron Waldon Workhouse between 1800 and 1815.
My Saffron Walden Ancestors
Are your ancestors from Saffron Walden? Why not tell us their story: My Ancestors.
More local history sources
Ebay is now a great source for old images of Essex towns and villages. If you're looking for pictures to add to your family tree album, then try one of the auctions, or there are several 'Buy It Now' shops offering postcards which have been touched up and improved - so if you're unsure about bidding, try these. Link already formatted for Essex. Browse through or type the name of the location in the Ebay search box. >>
Also on Ebay are legal documents on vellum. This link is formatted for Essex. (Sometimes I think these should be in an archive.) >>
Books featuring Saffron Walden from Abebooks. Just click the logo. The search terms are already formatted for Saffron Walden.
Search for Saffron Walden census returns at ancestry.co.uk.
1841 England Census | 1851 England Census
| 1861 England Census
1871 England Census | 1881 England Census
| 1891 England Census
1901 England Census
Essex1841.com transcript of 1841 census
The Essex Record Office: an excellent starting point for research. The ERO has an online catalogue by the name of SEAX and a database of Parish Records held in the ERO. Access to both via their home page. There is also a Archive Access Point at Saffron Walden Library.
Archeological history of Saffron Walden on the Essex County Council's Unlocking Essex.
Saffron Walden Museum web site.
Website with the history of Saffron Walden containing census returns, images and numerous other useful records.
1881 Ordnance Survey Map from the British History Online web site (Essex: 009, Ordnance Survey 1:10,560: Epoch 1.0).
Ordnance Survey - type the place name in the gazetteer search box to view detailed map of Saffron Walden.
Heritage Gateway. Database of national and local records of England's historic sites and buildings. Includes records and photographs of all listed buildings, and historical and archaeological information on locations throughout England.
Saffron Walden
print published 1834