Cities
United Kingdom Cambridge Cambridgeshire Museum

David Parr House

David Parr House
About

David Parr House in Cambridge is an unassuming terraced home with an extraordinary secret—a richly hand‑painted Arts and Crafts interior created over 40 years by Victorian decorative artist David Parr. Working for the Cambridge firm F. R. Leach & Sons, Parr contributed to grand commissions for designers like William Morris and George Bodley, then brought the same skill and style into his own home at 186 Gwydir Street. Between 1886 and 1926, he adorned its walls with intricate Gothic Revival patterns, biblical and literary inscriptions, and harmonious colour schemes. Remarkably preserved by his family for nearly nine decades, the house was saved by a charitable trust in 2014 and carefully conserved before opening to the public in 2019. Today, guided tours reveal this rare example of high‑art craftsmanship in a working‑class setting, offering an intimate glimpse into the life, artistry, and enduring legacy of one man’s devotion to beauty in the everyday.

Cambridge United Kingdom
Location

David Parr House is located at 184/186 Gwydir Street, Cambridge CB1 2LW, just off Mill Road in a vibrant area known for its independent shops, cafes, and cultural venues. The house is a remarkable example of the Arts and Crafts movement, with hand-painted interiors created by David Parr, a Victorian working-class artisan. It is approximately a 20-minute walk from Cambridge city centre and about 10 minutes from Cambridge railway station. Nearby, visitors can enjoy the lively atmosphere of Mill Road with its eclectic mix of shops and eateries, as well as open green spaces such as Parker’s Piece and Midsummer Common.David Parr House is located at 184/186 Gwydir Street, Cambridge CB1 2LW, just off Mill Road in one of Cambridge’s vibrant, culturally rich neighbourhoods. It is around a 20-minute walk from the city centre and about 10 minutes from Cambridge railway station. The house, famous for its extraordinary hand-painted Arts and Crafts interiors, is near the busy Mill Road corridor, known for its independent shops, cafes, and eateries. Nearby green spaces like Parker’s Piece provide a welcoming outdoor area, while the surrounding area offers a lively local community feel.

Fitzwilliam Museum Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Cambridge Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences Cambridge Whipple Museum of the History of Science Whipple Museum of the History of Science Cambridge Polar Museum Polar Museum Cambridge Museum of Zoology Museum of Zoology Cambridge Museum of Classical Archaeology Museum of Classical Archaeology Cambridge Kettle’s Yard Kettle’s Yard Cambridge Cambridge Museum of Technology Cambridge Museum of Technology Cambridge Cambridge Science Centre Cambridge Science Centre Cambridge Centre for Computing History Centre for Computing History Cambridge Museum of Cambridge Museum of Cambridge Cambridge IWM Duxford IWM Duxford Cambridge Bottisham Airfield Museum Bottisham Airfield Museum Cambridge Cambridge Arts Theatre Cambridge Arts Theatre Cambridge ADC Theatre ADC Theatre Cambridge Mumford Theatre Mumford Theatre Cambridge Corpus Playroom Corpus Playroom Cambridge Robinson Theatre Robinson Theatre Cambridge West Road Concert Hall West Road Concert Hall Cambridge MODO Gallery MODO Gallery Cambridge Cambridge Artworks & Artspace Cambridge Artworks & Artspace Cambridge GALLERIE V GALLERIE V Cambridge ArtSpace5-7 ArtSpace5-7 Cambridge Castle Mound Castle Mound Cambridge The Backs The Backs Cambridge Cambridge University Botanic Garden Cambridge University Botanic Garden Cambridge Jesus Green Jesus Green Cambridge Midsummer Common Midsummer Common Cambridge Parker’s Piece Parker’s Piece Cambridge Christ’s Pieces Christ’s Pieces Cambridge Mathematical Bridge Mathematical Bridge Cambridge Anglesey Abbey Anglesey Abbey Cambridge Cambridge Market Square Cambridge Market Square Cambridge All Saints Garden Art & Craft Market All Saints Garden Art & Craft Market Cambridge The Corpus Clock The Corpus Clock Cambridge Laundress Green Laundress Green Cambridge

User attributes