Douglas Kent, Technical Director at the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), explained the work of the SPAB before discussing how SPAB principles have been put into practice through the programme of major conservation work underway at the Old Sun Inn, Saffron Walden. We learned that the inn is a Grade I-listed historic building displaying some of the best pargeting – external decorative plasterwork – in England. It was originally medieval houses, then later an inn, and has subsequently been in mixed commercial and domestic use. The conservation work proved to be a fascinating insight into the construction of this beautiful building.
