David Parr’s Walk Home: Cambridge Arts and Crafts Tour (Afternoon)

This Easter Saturday, join a walking tour retracing David Parr’s walk home from work, beginning at All Saints' Church and ending at his home at David Parr House, 186 Gwydir Street. Along the way, discover the remarkable decorative legacy of F. R. Leach & Sons in Cambridge.

Led by an expert guide, this tour stops at key sites associated with the Leach firm:

• All Saints' Church

• Jesus College Chapel

• 35–37 City Road, the historic site of the workshops of F. R. Leach & Sons

• David Parr House

During the Victorian era, F. R. Leach & Sons made significant contributions to the Arts and Crafts Movement and the Gothic Revival, working on commissions for leading designers such as William Morris and George Frederick Bodley to create some of Britain’s most remarkable interiors. Some of the firm’s finest surviving work can still be found in Cambridge today, with examples often hidden behind closed doors.

Along the way, you will discover the hidden history of this Cambridge decorative firm and the skilled labour that helped shape many of the city’s most admired buildings across town and gown.

The tour reaches its destination at David Parr House, where you can step into the historic home of a Cambridge art workman and his family and experience David Parr’s extraordinary decorative skill in his own modest terraced house.

The tour will end with time for visitors to browse the shop and purchase the newly launched F. R. Leach & Sons Map of Cambridge (£5).

David Parr House is situated in the vibrant Mill Road area, where independent cafés, pubs and shops offer the perfect opportunity to continue your afternoon.

This tour marks the publication of a new F. R. Leach & Sons Map of Cambridge, available exclusively at David Parr House, which launched on National Walking Day 2026. The map highlights more surviving examples of Leach’s decorative work across the city to explore.

Distance: 1.2 miles / 2 km
Duration: Approximately 2.5 hours
Level: Easy