The need for fingerposts arose out of the Healthcheck research carried out for the Initiative in 2004. This identified that town centre signage was poor and that there was an opportunity to improve the visitor experience in Saffron Walden.
The fingerposts were funded by grants from Action for Market Towns and Saffron Walden Museum and co-ordinated by the Saffron Walden Initiative. With the help of the Town Council, six out of the planned eight fingerposts were installed October 2007. They were designed by David Riches, who runs the Visible Edge design consultancy in the town.
The group that planned the fingerposts included Elizabeth Blackie (Uttlesford Tourism Officer), Martyn Everett (local historian), Catherine Flack (Saffron Walden Initiative), Sue Locke (Uttlesford Access Group), John Ready (local architect), Helen Riches (local designer), Sarah Saward (Market Towns Project Officer) and Malcolm White (Town Clerk). The posts were installed by a local contractor, Peter Knight Construction.
