Saffron Walden Cestreforda to the north. After the Norman invasion of 1066, a stone church was built. Walden Castle, dating from about 1140, may have been built on pre-existing fortifications. A priory, Walden Abbey, was founded under the patronage of Geoffrey de Mandeville, first Earl of Essex about 1136, on the site of what is now Audley End village. The abbey was separated from Walden by Holywell Field. After the dissolution of the monasteries, Sir Thomas Audley converted its cloisters into a dwelling. Later this became the site of Audley End House. The market was moved from nearby Newport to Saffron Walden
Olive Cook In 1954, Cook married the photographer Edwin Smith. In 1962, they moved to Saffron Walden, firstly to a tall house on the corner of Audley Road and East Street, and later into the Coach House at the Vineyards on Windmill Hill. Cook died from cancer on 2 May 2002 at Saffron Walden Community Hospital, Saffron Walden. Collected information about Olive Cook on The Golden Fleece website. Olive Cook Olive Muriel Cook (20 February 1912 – 2 May 2002), was a British writer and artist, who published county guides, as well as writing various books accompanied by the work of her