At David Parr House, our mission extends beyond caring for this extraordinary home. We are dedicated to researching and sharing the hidden histories of the artists, makers, and craftspeople who shaped the Arts and Crafts Movement in Cambridge and nationally.
With the support of volunteers, scholars, partner institutions, and local communities, our research honours the legacy of the working-class artist. We aim to uncover more about David Parr, his life, work, and home, about the F. R. Leach firm and the Leach family, and, beyond this, to explore the broader context of artist workmen and the creative industries in Cambridge.
With your support, we can continue this vital research and share it through exhibitions, publications, public education, film, and media.
Researching David Parr and His Remarkable Home
Our research into David Parr’s home continues to reveal insights into his creative choices, designs, and the materials he used. By studying his paintings, his notebook, and techniques in the house, we deepen our understanding of Parr’s relationship to his work and wider material culture.
David and Mary Parr in the 186 Garden
Tracing the Local and National Legacy of F. R. Leach & Sons
Master decorator Frederick Richard Leach founded his Cambridge decorating firm in 1862. F. R. Leach & Sons carried out ecclesiastical and domestic decoration across the UK, from stained glass to stencilled walls, often working with figures like William Morris, Bodley, and Kempe.
Despite a fire in the 1970s destroying the company’s archive, we’re working closely with the Leach family and, until recently, the late Ric Leach, to transcribe and study surviving diaries and memo books. These notebooks record where Leach and his workmen travelled, what they worked on, and have helped to form the basis of our ongoing national mapping project of their work. Our research has highlighted how important the Leach firm is in Cambridge’s decorative history.
F. R. Leach & Sons Trade Card & F. R. Leach
Reclaiming the Role of the Artist Workman
In 2024, we supported an 18-month-long project to develop a short film about David Parr and his House with Dr Victoria Mills, a Senior Lecturer at Birkbeck, University of London. The Man Who Painted His House (2025) as part of Dr Mills’ British Academy-funded research on the role of the Victorian ‘artist-workman’ in shaping material culture. Produced by Dr Victoria Mills and directed by Lily Ford, explores the life, work, and legacy of David Parr—both as a decorative artist and a working man whose quiet creativity transformed a humble home.
Specialising in Victorian art, design, and material culture, Dr Victoria Mills' research critically re-examines the history of the Arts & Crafts movement, challenging traditional narratives that centre on privileged designers while neglecting the work of the artisans who brought their designs to life.
We continue to support academic research into David Parr, F R Leach and the ‘artist-workman' including contributions to PhDs and collaborative research projects.
Poster for screening of The Man Who Painted His House, Directed by Lily Ford and Produced by Dr Victoria Mills
Documenting Oral Histories of Cambridge’s Creative Communities
Since 2014, we’ve been collecting oral histories from people connected to the David Parr House and the broader Cambridge area.
As part of our Heritage Lottery Funded Project in 2017, Life and Art in a Worker’s House, we recorded memories of Elsie Palmer, David Parr’s granddaughter, who preserved the house for over 85 years. We also captured stories of her husband Alfred, their children, and life along Gwydir Street and Mill Road. These recollections bring to life the social history of the area, as well as the everyday use of creative and decorative skills.
Building on this, we’re now gathering oral histories related to Cambridge’s wider creative industries.
Collecting oral histories from family members
Why This Research Matters
Through our research, we aim to reclaim the history of the working-class artist and maker. Understanding the hidden stories behind David Parr’s life, the work of F. R. Leach & Sons, and the broader context of creative industries in Cambridge is vital for preserving our shared heritage.
By supporting this research, you help us uncover these untold stories, which we share through exhibitions, publications, public education, and film. Your contribution can help to support ongoing academic projects, including PhD research and collaborative initiatives.
If you would like to get involved or learn more about our research, please contact us at info@davidparrhouse.org.
