One of England’s most celebrated ancient pargeted buildings – offering tours and evolving as a hub for heritage-friendly events and building conservation

The Old Sun Inn is an enchanting and much-cherished Grade I-listed historic building in Saffron Walden, Essex, displaying some of the best pargeting—external decorative plasterwork—in England. Originally medieval houses, later an inn, the property has since seen mixed commercial and domestic use.

Dating from the 14th century, it is timber-framed with overhanging (‘jettied’) upper floors. The renowned pargeting dates from the 17th century onwards and the building is currently undergoing a major programme of conservation.

Situated in the town’s historic hub, the property comprises 29–31 Church Street and 17 Market Hill (for many years Lankester Antiques & Books), as well as 25–27 Church Street. The range is owned by Douglas Kent, who has acquired it in stages since 2009.

The Old Sun Inn is open for visits and events by prior appointment or at other advertised times

The Old Sun Inn Needs Your Help!

The beautiful pargeting on this building has been damaged by frost, pigeons and people heel-leaning. We are crowdfunding to conserve this landmark building for future generations using traditional methods and materials. Pargeting is on the red list of endangered craft skills. Donations will assist us with realising this vital work in the absence of accessible grants. After the pargeting is conserved we plan to hold a special tour for all the donors and friends of the Old Sun Inn. The Go Fund Me link is: https://gofund.me/a37d6fb7 .

Pigeon-damaged pargeting

Tours of 29-31 Church Street & 17 Market Hill

About the Tour – It Includes Cake!

Step behind the well-known facade of the Old Sun Inn. Learn about the conservation work underway to repair the structure and adapt it for its new use. Catch up with the latest discoveries about this important local landmark’s past.

Tours include an introductory talk on the building, its history and the present work by owner Douglas Kent. Each tour lasts approximately one-and-a-half hours and includes tea, coffee and homemade cakes.

The tours attract a wide range of people but appeal particularly to those with an interest in informed and sensitive work to old buildings. Whether you are a local resident, tourist who plans to visit Saffron Walden or someone simply enthusiastic about our heritage, we hope very much that you will come and explore the Old Sun Inn.

Private tours can be booked by emailing info@oldsuninn.com.

‘Outstanding even in Saffron Walden is the former Sun Inn – an immense, rambling building. Pargeting covers it completely.’

R Chamberlin, 1985 – English Market Towns

Ghost Stories Come Alive at the Old Sun Inn

As the evenings grow darker over the coming months Church Street’s 14th-century Old Sun Inn will play host to a chilling and atmospheric series of live storytelling events — all in aid of the building’s ongoing conservation.

Two acclaimed performance storytellers will take audiences on a journey into the supernatural and the seasonal, in the perfect setting for a ghostly tale.

On 5 November, Robert Lloyd Parry returns to the Old Sun Inn with a haunting double bill featuring The Haunted Dolls’ House by M R James and Gibbet Hill by Bram Stoker — two rarely heard gems of classic supernatural fiction.

On 5 December, Mat Jones will bring Charles Dickens’ much-loved A Christmas Carol vividly to life in a spellbinding one-man performance.

Then, on 10 December, Robert Lloyd Parry will return once more with Two Ghost Stories for Christmas, rounding off the season with more spine-tingling tales to thrill and unsettle: The Story of a Disappearance and an Appearance by M R James and How Fear Departed the Long Gallery by E F Benson.

All proceeds from these events will support the conservation and care of the Old Sun Inn, helping to conserve this remarkable medieval building for future generations.

For full details and booking information, see our events page. Where an event is sold out online, tickets may still be available via Saffron Walden Tourist Information Centre on 01799 524002.