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
Richard Walden Richard Walden Richard Walden (4 May 1948 – 19 November 2009) was an English professional footballer. A fullback, Walden played for Aldershot and Sheffield Wednesday before joining Newport County in 1978. Walden played over 400 league games for Aldershot. He scored the opening goal for Aldershot in the 1970-71 Football League Cup against Manchester United, though Aldershot went on to lose 3-1. Walden joined Newport County in 1978 and in doing so became the first player in British football to have the fee of £3,500 set by the transfer tribunal process. Walden made 193 appearances for Newport scoring 3 goals