| Identification and description | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | THE MAZE, SAFFRON WALDEN | ||||||
| Location |
|
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| Localisation | Latitude: 52.023989 Longitude: 0.24715850 National Grid Reference: TL 54278 38558 Map: Download a full scale map (PDF) |
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| Overview | Heritage Category: Park and Garden Grade: II List Entry Number: 1000741 Date first listed: 01-Jul-1987 |
A turf maze, thought to be of medieval origin, set on Saffron Walden common.
HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT
The Saffron Walden maze is thought to be of medieval origin, although the earliest
documentary record comes from 1699, when an entry in the Corporation account books
refers to a payment for it to be re-cut (Matthews 1922). It is illustrated, somewhat
schematically, in the 1789 edition of Camden's Britannia (ibid). Matthews records
the local tradition that the maze is only a copy of a much larger maze which formerly
existed further to the east. He also recounts the story that a large ash tree once
grew in the centre, which was destroyed by fire in the Guy Fawkes celebrations of
5 November 1823 (ibid). On several occasions after this the maze became neglected
but was the subject of further re-cutting in the years 1828, 1841, 1859, and 1887.
In 1911 it was again re-cut, this time underlaid with bricks to help preserve it as
a feature. In 1978 and 1979 the maze was again restored, damaged bricks were replaced
and all were cemented on their sides to create a c 12cm wide path. It remains (2000)
in the ownership of Saffron Walden Town Council.
DESCRIPTION
LOCATION, AREA, BOUNDARIES, LANDFORM, SETTING The maze lies in the centre of the eastern
boundary of the generally level Saffron Walden common which itself sits in the centre
of the town.
OTHER LAND The maze (scheduled ancient monument) consists of a series of concentric
circles cut into turf, surrounded by a low bank. It measures c 43m from corner to
corner, the main areas of circular paths being c 29m in diameter. It is laid in a
unicursal pattern formed of seventeen linked circles, and has four linked outer horseshoe-shaped
bastions or 'bellows' which are, like the centre of the maze, raised slightly above
the main circular paths. The narrow shallow grooves which form the paths are marked
by bricks and begin on the north or south sides of the maze.
REFERENCES
Roy Comm Hist Monuments Engl Inventories: Essex I, (1916), p 260 W Matthews, Mazes
and labyrinths (1922), pp 82-4 A Fisher, R Coate and G Burgess, A celebration of mazes
(1984), pp 7, 34
Maps OS 6" to 1 mile: 1st edition published 1877 2nd edition published 1897 OS 25"
to 1 mile: 2nd edition published 1897
Description written: October 2000 Register Inspector: EMP Edited: September 2001
This garden or other land is registered under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 within the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens by Historic England for its special historic interest.