The Rose & Crown

A Memory of Saffron Walden.

I have lived in Saffron Walden all my life - was born at SW Hospital - we lived in Audley End then.
My most vivid memory is of the tragic fire at the Rose & Crown Hotel in the market Square (now Boots), I think it was Christmas night/boxing day morning of 1970 when 11 people sadly lost their lives. My sister, Maggie, was head receptionist at the time, and because of the enormous stress of the then managers my sister had the grim task of identifying some of the victims. It stayed with her for the rest of her life until she too died two years ago. Those of us who loved the Rose & Crown and its wonderful façade, were disappointed when it was subsequently demolished as it was deemed to be unsafe, even though the front of the property was almost untouched by fire damage. The huge bunch of gold grapes which always hung at first floor level, was subsequently moved and rehung to a building further down market street - sadly they have lost their gold lustre now and need restoration. When I win the lottery, I will pay to have it restored and resited to its original position !