Walden Castle

The flint-and-mortar ruins next to the Museum are the remains of the keep of the Norman castle which has stood on the site since the 12th century. The Museum and castle grounds were originally the Castle’s Inner Bailey. 

Walden Castle was probably built between 1125 and 1141 by Geoffrey II de Mandeville, Earl of Essex, during the civil wars between Stephen and the Empress Maud. The earliest reference to the Castle is in a document dated 1141. In this charter the Empress Maud granted Geoffrey the right to move the market from the neighbouring village of Newport “into his castle at Walden”.

After the end of the Civil War in 1153, the Castle was rendered indefensible by order of Henry II in 1158. The manor of Walden passed eventually to the de Bohun family. Humphrey VII de Bohun was given licence to crenellate in 1346, but the extent of the rebuilding is not clear. Little is known of its later occupation, but much of the stone was removed in the 18th century. The tower was added in 1796.

The flint core of the three-storey Norman keep is all that remains; even the low motte has been removed. The layout of the surrounding streets and medieval town reflect the Castle’s defences and town enclosure (the Battle Ditches, still visible south of Abbey Lane).

Viewable all year round, situated in grounds next to the Saffron Walden Museum.

View the map of the castle