History of saffron Gâtinais, Normandy, Périgord, Poitou, Provence, and Quercy. Its mysterious decline started during the 18th century, possibly due to pandemic fungal diseases destroying bulbs and crops, to particularly cold winters, and to competing market from the Mediterranean countries. In England, cultivation "persisted" only in the light, well-drained, and chalk-based soils of the north Essex countryside. The Essex town of Saffron Walden got its name as a saffron growing and trading centre; its name was originally Cheppinge Walden, and the culinary name change was effected to punctuate the importance of the crop to the townsfolk; the town's arms still feature blooms from
Saffron Walden 2017 general election. Sir Alan was Chairman of Ways and Means and Deputy Speaker from 1997 to 2010. It has been considered a safe seat for the Conservative Party since 1922. According to the Office for National Statistics, at the time of the United Kingdom Census 2001, Saffron Walden had a population of 14,313. The 2001 population density was , with a 100 to 94.5 female-to-male ratio. Of those over 16 years old, 45.0% were married, 27.4% were single (never married), and 8.2% divorced. The parish's 6,013 households included 38.5 per cent married couples living together, 31.5 per cent one-person