March 1136 A.D. Walden Abbey, Saffron Walden, Essex, UK—Founded by Benedictine Monks and Geoffrey de Mandeville, Earl of Essex; Raised to Abbey Status, 1190
March 1136 A.D. Walden Abbey, Saffron Walden, Essex, UK—Founded by Benedictine Monks and Geoffrey de Mandeville, Earl of Essex; Raised to Abbey Status, 1190; Dissolved 1538; Site Now Occupied by Audley End House & St. Mark’s College; 56 Miles Near True North of London & South of Cambridge Walden Abbey From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Audley End House, on the site of Walden Abbey Walden Abbey was a Benedictine monastery in Saffron Walden , Essex , England founded by Geoffrey de Mandeville, 1st Earl of Essex between 1136 and 1143. Originally a priory , it was elevated to the status of an abbey in 1190. Soon after its founding, Earl Geoffrey was arrested by King Stephen . When released on surrender of his castles, the earl launched a rebellion that lasted over a year. When he was killed, he had also been excommunicated and could not be buried at the priory. Walden suffered without a clear patron through the rest of Stephen's reign. Even when Geoffr...