1901 Saffron Walden by-election 1901 Saffron Walden by-election The Saffron Walden by-election, 1901 was a by-election held on 31 May 1901 for the British House of Commons constituency of Saffron Walden in Essex. The by-election was caused by the death on 1 May 1901, at the age of 40, of the sitting Liberal MP for the constituency Armine Wodehouse. Wodehouse was the son of sometime Foreign Secretary John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley and had held the Saffron Walden seat since the general election of 1900. Saffron Walden Liberals selected as their candidate Jack Pease. Pease had been Liberal MP for the Tyneside Division
Saffron Walden a number of others had departed for the Massachusetts Bay Colony as part of the Great Migration. Saffron Walden was at the centre of the Eastern Association during the English Civil War. While the town was the headquarters of the New Model Army, Lieutenant-General of Horse, Oliver Cromwell paid a 19-day visit in May 1647, taking part in debates to seek a settlement between Parliament and the army. He is thought to have stayed at the "Sun Inn". By the end of the 18th century saffron was no longer in demand and the industry was replaced by malt and barley.