This constituency covers the largest acreage of any seat in Essex and is also the most rural and agricultural. The town after which the seat is named has the largest population, and then is only about 14,000. The only other towns of note are Halstead, Great Dunmow, Stansted Mountfitchet and Thaxted. The rest of the constituency is made up of over 100 villages covered by Uttlesford District Council and part of Braintree District Council.
Saffron Walden is a quintessential English market town, which bypassed the Industrial Revolution. With its narrow streets and ancient houses, it has retained much of its mediaeval street pattern. Originally known as Walden, the Saffron prefix was added because the town traded so successfully in the commodity. The remains of Walden Castle can still be seen today, near the Saffron Walden Museum.
This seat was held for many years by Rab Butler. Prosperous and comfortable, levels of unemployment and single parenthood are very low.