Saffron Walden Museum seeks residents’ memories of bygone pub
Saffron Walden Museum’s Amy Glover with the iconic sign from the town’s former Crocus Tavern pub. - Credit: Archant
AS more and more pubs across Britain call ‘Last Orders’ for the final time, residents in Saffron Walden are being asked for their memories of one of the town’s best known boozers.
The site of the former Crocus Tavern in Pleasant Valley is now occupied by a Tesco Express convenience store.
Although the pub itself is gone its iconic forecourt sign has found a new and permanent home at Saffron Walden Museum. The sign was donated to the museum by Abbey Group Cambridgeshire Ltd after it closed down earlier this year.
Believed to be the only pub sign in Britain to feature the saffron crocus, it was handed over to curators by Richard Clare and Tony Sherritt of contractors The Lindum Group.
And now the museum hopes the sight of it will trigger a collective outpouring of nostalgia by local residents who used to enjoy a tipple in the pub.
Curator Carolyn Wingfield said: “The Crocus Tavern was a local landmark and it was part of an important phase in the town’s expansion in the 1960s and 70s.
“We would like to hear from local residents of any memories they have of the pub so we can add them to our records of Saffron Walden’s recent history.”
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Carl Sutton, director of Abbey Group Cambridgeshire Ltd, said: “I am pleased the Crocus sign has gone to a good home. I hope that by housing it in the museum it will bring back memories for people that used to drink in the pub.”
The sign will be on temporary display in the Museum’s ground floor galleries from Saturday. A ‘memory board’ will be placed alongside it for local residents to post their recollections of the pub.
Alternatively, anyone with information or memories about the Crocus Tavern can contact the museum by e-mail at museum@uttlesford.gov.uk or telephone 01799-510333.
It is hoped the sign will eventually go on permanent display at the museum as part of its forthcoming programme.
