Image credited to Simon Ross

The Old Sun Inn was first established in the 14th century in the town of Saffron Walden, located in north-west Essex. The Inn was one of the most illustrious inns in England, and has recorded visits from both the diarist Samuel Pepys and writer John Evelyn. The Sun Inn was especially renowned for its ‘pargeting,’ or ornate plasterwork on the front wall, which was a distinctive feature of Saffron Walden architecture. Pargeting was used for decorative purposes, but it also served as a waterproofing technique in 15th and 16th century England. The Sun Inn was decorated in 1676 with large figures of people and birds, and features a battle scene with Tom Hickathrift—a legendary figure of East Anglian English folklore similar to Jack the Giant Killer. The Sun Inn is also known to have housed Oliver Cromwell—an English general who led armies against King Charles I during the English Civil War—in 1647 when the Parliamentary Army’s headquarters were in Saffron Walden.

Today, the Sun Inn is one of Saffron Walden’s most famous architectural landmarks and still sits at a corner surrounded by timber-framed buildings. The plastering that was applied to the Inn’s walls in 1676 can still be seen on the building today. The building is now mainly seen as a tourist destination in Saffron Walden, as it is no longer an inn and instead houses an antique shop.