Inside the rental secretly transformed with mythical beasts and murals saved from landlords by Jarvis Cocker
Renting in the UK usually means you can’t so much as stick a poster on your wall without fearing for your deposit.
But such concerns were beneath the late Ron Gittins when he rented a ground floor flat in a normal Victorian semi in 1986.
For 30 years he secretly created fantastical artworks out of his rental flat at 8 Silverdale Road in Birkenhead, Merseyside.
Gittins discouraged visitors and it wasn’t until his death in 2019 that the extent of his creative endeavors were revealed.
Period fireplaces were transformed into the sculpted heads of a minotaur and lion, with Roman and nautical-themed frescos covering every wall.
Worried that his artwork could be lost, friends, family and fans rallied round to preserve the unique apartment, which they dubbed Ron’s Place.
The flat on Silverdale Road has now been awarded Grade II listed status by the UK Government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the advice of Historic England.
Jarvis Cocker, a patron of the campaign to save Ron’s Place, was delighted by the news.
"A small number of people on this planet have known for a while that Ron’s Place is a very Special Place — but from now on it is official: Ron’s Place has been given listed status!” said the Pulp frontman.
“The work of one unique gentleman in the north of England has been recognised nationally. Globally even,” added Cocker.
“Hallelujah!!"
Cocker signed up to preserve the flat as an example of Outsider Art, a term used to describe pieces created by artists with no formal training outside of the realm of art galleries and exhibitions. Gittins’ niece, Jan Williams, was as surprised as anyone to discover what her uncle has been up to.
"When I was sorting through Ron's possessions following his death I discovered an incorrectly addressed postcard he'd tried to send me. He said he couldn't wait to show me what he'd been working on next time I was home,” said Williams.
"I believe Ron would be made up and very proud at all the attention he's receiving, and thrilled his work is being recognised and appreciated — he only kept it secret because you're not really supposed to turn your rented flat into a Roman villa complete with epic concrete fireplaces are you?”
Sculpting concrete statues of a gaping lion’s maw, a roaring minotaur, or a full-scale Roman bread oven onto Victorian fireplaces, or turning the bathroom into a painted undersea wonderland is not, of course, legal if you are a renter.
When the landlord and property manager planned to sell the property at auction, Cocker and Williams — together with film director Martin Wallace — rallied to save Gittins’ life’s work.
They formed the Wirral Arts & Culture Community Land Trust (WACCLT), fundraising to buy the property at auction and applying to Historic England to have the site listed.
Now they plan to turn Ron’s Place into a home for local community arts. “This is twentieth century heritage unlike any other, the first example of Outsider Art to be nationally listed,” said Twentieth Century Society director Catherine Croft.
“At Ron’s Place, one man’s extraordinary creative vision summoned creatures from Greek mythology and the architecture of ancient Roman to a humble ground-floor flat in Birkenhead. Proof, if needed, that great art isn’t confined just to established galleries and collections,” Croft added,
“It’s also great news that the WACCLT will use the flat for creative arts programming to enhance the health and wellbeing of the people of the Wirral: what better end could there be to this amazing story.”