This website is about my experiences renovating the Old Sun Inn, Church Street, Saffron Walden – an enchanting and much-cherished Grade I-listed historic building in Essex that displays some of the best pargeting (external decorative plasterwork) in England.
On these pages you can discover more about the building and current award-winning work to it, find out when you can visit by appointment, and learn of wider issues and campaigns in the field of building conservation.
Come and explore this much-cherished Grade I-listed, 14th-century property. Learn about plans for its future. Discover new facts about its past. Hear an introductory talk on the building by owner Douglas Kent, the Technical and Research Director at the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. The current conservation work provides added interest – not too unlike visiting a patient uncovered on an operating table!
Tours are available by prior appointment on the days below. Each tour lasts approximately one-and-a-half hours and includes tea, coffee, homemade cakes and biscuits. Additionally, private or group tours can be arranged by contacting info@oldsuninn.com .
The tours attract a wide range of people but appeal particularly to those with an interest in the informed and sensitive renovation of old buildings. Whether you are a local resident, tourist who plans to visit Saffron Walden or someone simply enthusiastic about our heritage, I hope very much that you will come and explore the Old Sun Inn.
Historic Building Tours:
Our general Historic Building Tours have now been paused while conservation work takes place on the building.
Please watch this space for the dates of Works-in-Progress Tours that we hope to run during the conservation project (or contact us if you wish to arrange a Tailored Tour)
Douglas Kent Heritage 