Behind an unassuming white door in a Cambridge terrace street lies an extraordinary testament to working-class creativity and craftsmanship - David Parr House. This unique historic home offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the life of a Victorian decorative artist who transformed his modest house into an Arts & Crafts masterpiece of hand-painted decoration over 40 years.

Unlike traditional historic houses that often celebrate and present the lives of the wealthy elite, David Parr House tells a different story - one of working-class artistry, ambition, and achievement. David Parr was a skilled artworker who spent his days decorating the interiors of large society houses, churches and colleges for the renowned Cambridge decorative arts firm F R Leach & Sons. Outside of his work often by candlelight, he meticulously designed and adorned the walls of his own home with intricate patterns in the Arts and Crafts style.

What makes this house truly remarkable is its exceptional state of preservation. Thanks to Parr's granddaughter, who maintained the house and lived in the house for over 85 years, stepping inside feels like entering a time capsule. Hidden from public view for decades, the house stands as though she had just stepped out and offers visitors an authentic experience home lived in for over a century by the same family.

In a city famous for its university colleges and academic achievements, David Parr House illuminates a different facet of Cambridge's heritage:  the story of local skilled craftspeople who shaped the city's architectural beauty, cementing Cambridge’s place in the wider Arts and Crafts Movement. This hidden gem reveals a nationally significant narrative about working-class creativity and innovation in the decorative arts, challenging our assumptions about who could create beauty and where it could be found.

As an independent charity since 2014, we preserve not only the physical house but the powerful story it tells about individual creativity and its wider societal impact. Through guided tours, events, creative workshops, and collaborations with contemporary artists, we invite visitors to experience this unique space and draw inspiration from its message: that seemingly small actions can have profound significance.

More than a historic house museum, David Parr House serves as an inspiration for contemporary makers, artists, designers and creatives demonstrating the transformative power of an individual’s artistic practice. The house and the story of the Parr family shows us that remarkable achievements are possible on a domestic scale, and that personal vision and craftsmanship can have lasting impact beyond their immediate time and place.

Impressive now more than ever, the house stands as proof that extraordinary beauty can emerge from ordinary circumstances, as a catalyst for creativity and individual empowerment. And that everyone - regardless of social status - has the potential to create lasting cultural legacy.

None of this happens in isolation: Every historic house needs visitors to truly come alive, through House Visits and Guided Tours, visitors are invited to discover the house’s magical history, hidden treasures and connect with the remarkable creative spirit David Parr embedded throughout.

We work with contemporary artists and makers who we invite to interpret and reimagine the house's significance today. Our varied programme of events, exhibitions and workshops ensure the house remains a living, breathing space of inspiration and creative possibilities.

We require ongoing support to maintain this unique example of working-class heritage and to develop our programme. As an independent charity, we rely on our supporters to help us with ongoing conservation of the house and collection to support value research and to develop exciting opportunities for engagement.

By supporting David Parr House, you're not just helping to preserve the past - you're investing in its power to inspire future generations and demonstrate how we can all achieve extraordinary things. Find out more about how to support us. You can donate here or visit our shop.

If you would like to learn more and discuss how you can get involved, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at director@davidparrhouse.org

Thank you, Annabelle Campbell, Director