[3] The hundred had been named after a ford on the London Road (now the B1383, formerly the A11) at Wendens Ambo, since replaced by a bridge.

In 1988 the former Saffron Walden General Hospital on London Road closed and the site was bought by the council.

The original hospital building of 1865 was renovated and a large extension built to its west to become a new headquarters for the council, which opened in May 1990.

The parishes are:[17] Apart from considerable agriculture, retail and office premises in towns, Uttlesford District includes London Stansted Airport, which is its largest employer.

For more detailed analysis of strengths and specializations in the economy see individual settlements, for instance the article: Saffron Walden.

[18] Aside from countryside hotels close to and aircraft maintenance vital to Stansted Airport, airlines have also used a small adjoining business park.

[25] In terms of television, the area is served by BBC East and ITV Anglia broadcasting from the Sudbury[26] and Sandy Heath transmitters.

CrossCountry also operates northbound trains from Stansted Airport and Audley End to Cambridge, Peterborough, Leicester and Birmingham New Street.

Greater Anglia operates southbound trains from other stations in the district to Bishop's Stortford, Harlow, Tottenham Hale and Liverpool Street.

A southbound hourly fast-train also calls at Audley End, with additional services at peak times towards London from this station.

[29] Roads in the district are managed by Essex County Council, with some routes controlled by National Highways.

[31] Northbound from Stump Cross, the A11 forms part of the northern boundary of the district, carrying traffic to Newmarket and Norwich.

[35][36] Saffron Walden is on the Stagecoach Cambridge network, served by the Citi 7, although Megarider tickets are not valid in the district.

National Cycle Route 11 (NCR 11) crosses the district north-south, from Ickleton to Stansted Mountfitchet, running mostly on rural lanes.

National Cycle Route 16 runs east-west between Stansted Mountfitchet and Braintree, via Great Dunmow town centre.