Pictures of Audley End

a Stately Home in the town of Saffron Walden, in the county of Essex

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About Audley End

Once, centuries ago in the days of Henry VIII a Benedictine Abbey stood here. A casualty of King's Dissolution caused by his desire to marry Anne Boleyn, the land was given by the King to Lord Audley who built himself a house in the grounds.

The house passed to Lord Howard of Walden, created Earl of Suffolk by James I. He began the stunning Jacobean house, that was to become the largest and most impressive Jacobean house in England. Having two courts built around the ruins of the Benedictine monastery, it was twice the size of the house we see today. Interestingly, after the Restoration Charles II acquired the property, but it was returned to the Howards in 1701, when the 5th Earl instructed noted architect Sir John Vanbrugh. At this time the outer court was demolished and the interior was greatly altered. The delightful exterior of the earlier house, complete with its roof surrounded by balustrading and topped by turrets remains. So too, does the magnificent great hall. This very special room is entered through two ornate porches built in the 17th-century-it is a handsome hall with a flat ceiling decorated with ornate carved wood and plaster panels, there is a screen with carved decoration and flights of stairs lead off. The hall is enhanced by a decorative fireplace surrounded by fine paintings.

On the ground floor there are reception rooms ascribed to Robert Adam. The Great Drawing Room is a room of overwhelming grandeur, here Adam's skilfully scaled down the size of the furniture to allow for the undesirable low ceiling, not fitting for the formal style of 18th-century design. His design of the Little Drawing Room for the Ladies was based on the use of roman columns-gracious in appearance but problematic for Lady Griffin and her companions who had difficulty moving around the room clothed in grand evening attire!

Audley End is full of interest. It has the ambience of a comfortable Victorian mansion with fascinating collections ranging from stuffed birds, shells and fossils to rare antiquities and priceless works of art. Not least, is the atmospheric richly decorated Gothic chapel and the glorious flower filled gardens. The kitchen garden is of particular interest, full of herbs, fruit and vegetables, it looks just as it did in Victorian times, when all the fresh produce was used to feed the household.

Of great interest for children is Lord Braybrooke's miniature railway running through 1.5 miles of delightful estate woodland. A shop on site sells memorablelia of the romantic age of steam and items from Thomas the Tank range.

This glorious house provides an interesting and entertaining time for everyone. It is cared for by English Heritage and is situated close to Saffron Walden, Essex.

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Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Audley End

Bridge End Gardens	(0.8 miles, 1.3 km)	Pictures
Saffron Walden Castle	(0.8 miles, 1.4 km)	Pictures
Saffron Walden Museum	(0.8 miles, 1.4 km)	Pictures
Imperial War Museum Duxford	(6.4 miles, 10.4 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Wandlebury Ring	(9.6 miles, 15.4 km, direction N)	Pictures
Wandlebury Country Park	(9.8 miles, 15.8 km, direction N)	Pictures
Hatfield Forest Country Park	(10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction S)	Pictures
University Botanic Gardens	(12.6 miles, 20.3 km, direction N)	Pictures
Wimpole Hall	(14.2 miles, 22.8 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Wimpole Home Farm	(14.2 miles, 22.8 km, direction NW)	Pictures

All attractions in Essex
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Audley End

Saffron Walden, in the county of Essex (0.9 miles, 1.5 km)
The outstanding feature of Saffron Walden is its rich variety of properties tangled around its web of ancient streets.
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Wendens Ambo, a Picturesque Village in the county of Essex (1.4 miles, 2.2 km, direction SW)
This enchanting village with its unusual name lies at the western boundary of the county. Its quaint name comes from the joining of Great and Little Ambo in the 17th century.
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Linton, in the county of Cambridgeshire (5.9 miles, 9.5 km, direction N)
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Hempstead, in the county of Essex (6.7 miles, 10.8 km, direction E)
The village of Hempstead lies a short distance from the delightful town of Saffron Walden. It is the place where the highwayman, Dick Turpin is said to have been born the son of parents who kept the Bell Inn.
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Thaxted, in the county of Essex (7.1 miles, 11.4 km, direction SE)
The village of Thaxted is stunningly beautiful with many reminders that it was once and perhaps always has been an extremely prosperous place.
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Brent Pelham, in the county of Hertfordshire (7.3 miles, 11.7 km, direction SW)
Brent Pelham can be found mid-way between the town of Buntingford and the village of Newport.
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Great Hormead, a Picturesque Village in the county of Hertfordshire (9.2 miles, 14.7 km, direction SW)
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Finchingfield, a Picturesque Village in the county of Essex (10.5 miles, 16.9 km, direction E)
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Bishop's Stortford, in the county of Hertfordshire (10.9 miles, 17.5 km, direction S)
There are many interesting places to visit including St.Michael's Church which is exceptionally spacious and has a spire that can been seen for miles around.
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Trumpington, in the county of Cambridgeshire (11.6 miles, 18.7 km, direction NW)
Beautifully situated in a wonderful area, yet close to the M11 is Trumpington.
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All towns in Essex
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Audley End Station	(1.3 miles, 2.0 km, direction SW)
Newport (Essex) Station	(2.8 miles, 4.6 km, direction S)
M11 Junction 9	(3.2 miles, 5.2 km, direction NW)
M11 Junction 10	(6.5 miles, 10.5 km, direction NW)
London Stansted Airport	(9.6 miles, 15.4 km, direction S)
Cambridge Airport	(12.9 miles, 20.8 km, direction N)
Audley End to London	(38.5 miles, 61.9 km, direction S)

Accommodation & Hotels near Audley End

Hotel Name
The Cricketers Arms	(5.3 miles, 8.6 km, direction S)
Duxford Lodge Hotel	(5.4 miles, 8.7 km, direction NW)
Thaxted Hall	(6.8 miles, 10.9 km, direction SE)
The Swan Hotel	(6.9 miles, 11.1 km, direction SE)
Whitehall Hotel	(7.5 miles, 12.1 km, direction SE)
The Old Red Lion	(7.7 miles, 12.4 km, direction NE)
Coach House Hotel	(7.8 miles, 12.6 km, direction W)
Chimneys	(8.1 miles, 13.0 km, direction S)
Desalis Hotels London Stansted	(8.2 miles, 13.2 km, direction S)
The Old Bell Hotel	(8.6 miles, 13.8 km, direction S)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts